Note: This article is based on the work of Darious Foroux, in which he discusses the impact of focusing on the present on our happiness.
Every person has an inner voice that they believe judges everything around them; therefore, any critiques they may have of themselves or the world are just internal thoughts. The same applies to feelings of enthusiasm about getting things we desire.
I used to think to myself as I ran, “It's cold; it's 8 °C. I wish I was in the Caribbean right now. I had such a great time in Curaçao when I was there last time.”
My first thought was, “How can I go there now? I wish I didn't have appointments the following week, but how much will the tickets cost? Perhaps the trip will be expensive, in which case I will need to look for additional income sources.”
I could have chosen to visit the Caribbean islands while considering how to increase my income to pay for the trip.
But fortunately, I am the kind of person who doesn't pay much attention to what's going on in his head because I think that everyone has the same ideas. We all want a bigger house, a modern car, more recreation, to go to fancy restaurants, and to do more fun things. Therefore, I avoid falling into the problems that result from these thoughts by ignoring the majority of them.
Your thoughts cause you to lose focus on the present
| The brain naturally prefers to think about things other than the present because doing so requires more concentration than thinking about the past or the future. |
Have you ever noticed that no matter what day of the week it is, you never think positively about it? Have you ever told yourself, "I'll enjoy this cup of coffee and not think about what happened with me today," after a long, exhausting day stuck in traffic?
We're trying to say that humans have a propensity for negative thinking. Positive thinking, on the other hand, doesn't just happen; those who claim to always be upbeat and optimistic are lying. In other words, nobody is naturally upbeat and optimistic. Instead, you need to practice thinking positively.
Without practicing positivity, we will continue to reject the present and dwell on the past and the future. The brain naturally prefers to think about things other than the present because doing so requires more concentration than thinking about the past or the future.
Therefore, it is important to note that, following this theory, thoughts are not regarded as a part of the person. Instead, they exist independently, but consciousness can still perceive them. In other words, even though you are aware of your thoughts, they are not you.
The issue is that the majority of us believe that our thoughts define who we are, but in reality, we listen to them so intently that it is very difficult for us to focus on the here and now.
Accept and befriend the present
| Accept whatever the present moment contains as though you had chosen it. Always cooperate with it instead of fighting it. |
"The prevailing trend is your friend" is a saying used in the stock market. This is a result of the ‘Trend Following’ trading strategy. According to this, a trader should purchase stocks when they are rising in price and sell them when they are falling.
Investors anticipate that the price of a particular stock will either rise or fall over time. In other words, if a stock's price has been falling for two weeks, it is likely to keep falling for another week before starting to rise again. It makes no sense to buy stocks that are trending downward unless you are an investor who believes in the company and believes in its ability to grow, as doing so is equivalent to sailing against a wind that is stronger than the ship.
When I was running and became aware of these thoughts, I used the techniques I had learned through meditation to bring my attention to the present moment, but I also became aware of how my thoughts were attempting to distract me from doing so.
The next time your thoughts try to take you to the past or the future, pay close attention to them. Your thoughts constantly make an effort to draw your focus away from the present. By doing this, they force you to go against life, which is constantly in step with the present.
Try living in the present instead of constantly dwelling on the past or the future, because this is how life is meant to be lived. We would be content and graciously accept it if we lived in the present. In his book The Power of Now, the German author Eckhart Tolle writes: "Accept whatever the present moment contains as though you had chosen it. Always cooperate with it instead of fighting it. Make it your ally and friend, not your foe.”
You become distracted, perplexed, and dissatisfied when you resist the present; more importantly, you will only suffer if you concentrate your thoughts on a time other than the present.
In conclusion
Live in the moment at all times, even in your thoughts, and make the present your friend. Recognize whenever your mind tries to steer you in the direction of the past or the future. Never think about the past or the future; instead, tell yourself constantly, "The present is my friend."
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