I've found myself suffering a lot lately. More than I need to. More than I should be.
By suffering, I mean using my memory to replay unpleasant situations from the past, and using my imagination to fear unpleasant situations in the future.
Or better yet, my memory and imagination use me.
The problem is, neither the content of my memories nor the content of my imagination is taking place right now. Yet I'm using the present moment to visit those mental spaces. This a problem. If the present moment is all we ever have, then (a) I'm missing out on it, and (b) I'm suffering while doing so.
Logically, this makes a lot of sense. Any rational and wise person recognizes the futility of living anywhere but in the here and now.
So why do 99.999% of us not live here, now? Why do we all relive painful pasts and stress over things that aren't even happening?
Is it that we're not rational and wise? Or is it just so difficult to do so?
I think the answer is a mixture of both.
Most people don't even question this, which is a nonstarter. You'll never awaken to this truth if you always accept that you naturally live in the past and future.
But even for those of us that do question why it is this way - why our minds drift forward and backward with such ease, but rarely stand a chance staying present to the reality unfolding in front of us - we still seem to experience tremendous difficulty.
I don't have the answers, but I can pose the following question to you.
Your mind will live where it wants to live. The question is, will you live there too?
Live with substance!
Gabe Orlowitz
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