What happened?

What’s happening?

What’s going to happen?

In which of these three questions do you spend most of your thinking time?

Are you evenly split between all three or do you find yourself favoring one or more over the other?

If you’re like the majority of people then although you’re physically present in the ‘what’s happening,’ your mind is either in the ‘what happened or what’s going to happen,’ questions. Your mind is in the past and future because it loves to reminisce and also tell stories. The problem with this is we as humans are notoriously bad at recalling what exactly happened in the past and then we use unreliable, skewed information to try and predict the future.

Studies have shown over and over again that even the most astute individuals, experts in their fields with access to endless amounts if information, tend to incorrectly predict the future. In many cases they’re just like you, creating fiction about what might happen.

So, if the past can’t be changed and future can’t accurately be predicted then what would it look like if you spent more time with your body in the present?

Being present in the what’s happening now can be challenging because, in all honesty, it can seem boring compared to the stories about what happened or what’s going to happen, and that’s why your mind wanders of in to the past and future. But being present can be a very powerful tool, because it can help relieve remorse and anxiety.

Dwelling the past or thinking about the future are natural tendencies and humans have been blessed with these capabilities, but they don’t always serve you well. And it’s in the times that they are not serving you well that you should focus your attention on the present.

The next time you find yourself caught up in the ‘what happened’ or ‘what’s going to happen’ thought cycles and you begin to feel anxious or overwhelmed, bring yourself back to where you are. Focus on being exactly where your body is and stay with the ‘what’s happening now.’

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