The future is not as important as you think it is.
Would you say that you’re truly happy? And even if you are, do you still have even one little thing that you can’t stop thinking about, or maybe one little regret that still haunts you to this day? If you feel like you haven’t achieved true happiness, I would like to share a major reason why.
Generally, there are three places in time that you can be in: the past, the present, or the future. The best way to achieve true happiness is to live in the present.
There is no doubt that we all have regrets and things that have happened to us in the past that we still think about, and they might even be keeping us up at night. What we need to realize is that if we keep dwelling on the past, we are never going to be able to immerse ourselves in the present moment.
When you spend your time thinking about the past, it holds you back from experiencing what’s happening right now. Even though it’s important to avoid making the same mistakes you made in the past, making mistakes still helps us learn and grow. It is very important to acknowledge your feelings and set new goals so that you can move on with your life by moving forward instead of moving backwards.Â
Now if you’re not dwelling on the past, it probably means that you are worrying about the future instead, which could be taking away from your happiness even more. We all have worries, and it’s impossible to not have any, because that’s what happens when we grow up and have to enter the real world.
Here is a beautiful quote from the book “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living” by Dale Carnegie: “One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon— instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.”
Even though we all have different circumstances in life, no matter what your worries are, the big takeaway is this: don’t take a single minute of your life for granted. Focus on what you have rather than what you don’t have.
Practicing mindfulness is something that can help with this. According to a study done in 2019, mindfulness is both directly and indirectly related to lower levels of depression and anxiety as well as higher levels of emotional management.
Instead of stressing about the future, you should focus on what you can do today to maintain a more positive mindset. You need to trust yourself that you will be able to handle what life throws at you.
It’s important to remember that the future is inherently unpredictable, so embracing the present moment allows for adaptability in the long term. There are always opportunities for growth and exploration, and life is too short to be dwelling on the past or constantly worrying about the future.
By living deliberately, you will find that life unfolds in unexpected and beautiful ways. For more advice and insights, follow us @HerCampusSJSU!