Fully Committed to Now

The economic situation is bleak, and the truth is that nobody knows how much worse things will get before they start to improve. The holidays are quickly approaching and winter is upon us; yet it will get a lot colder before it starts getting warmer. If you're like me, you await warmer days and hope that soon the unemployment rate will stop rising. I am constantly thinking about what is to come -- my fears and my hopes for the future. But what I need to do more is stop worrying about tomorrow or next week or even next month, and start appreciating today. It is so hard not to stress about what the days ahead will bring; but at the same time it is so important, especially in times of hardship, to "stop and smell the roses". Today might not be the best or easiest or happiest day of my life, but that doesn't make it any less worthwhile. Of course we all recognize that each day is a special gift; the tough part is to avoid getting so caught up in the chaos of everyday life that we take our days for granted. We always have a choice to appreciate or to waste that day, and I for one would like to start doing more of the former and much less of the latter. Neither time nor health are guaranteed, which is a scary concept. So is spending life worrying about what might come instead of living the time at hand. My grandfather is 90 years old and when I think about all he's seen in his life - the good and the bad - I realize I have a lot of challenges and joy ahead of me. But instead of driving myself crazy trying to predict what lies ahead... I will try harder to concentrate on today.

Apologies for the un-cheery post. Perhaps it's the time of year that makes me feel especially reflective. And now for more DailyOM...

December 11, 2008
Fully Committed to Now
Why We Are Not Shown the Big Picture

Sometimes, we may find ourselves wishing we knew what our lives are going to look like or what gifts and challenges are going to be presented to us in the coming months or years. We may want to know if the relationship we’re in now will go the distance or if our goals will be realized. Perhaps we feel like we need help making a decision and we want to know which choice will work out best. We may consult psychics, tarot cards, our dreams, and many other sources in the hopes of finding out what the future holds. Usually, at most, we may catch glimpses. And even though we think we would like to know the whole story in all its details, the truth is that we would probably be overwhelmed and exhausted if we knew everything that is going to happen to us.

Just think of your life as you’ve lived it up to this point. If you are like most of us, you have probably done more and faced more than you could have ever imagined. If someone had told you as a child of all the jobs and relationships you would experience, along with each one’s inherent ups and downs, you would have become overwhelmed. With your head full of information about the future, you would have had a very hard time experiencing your life in the present moment, which is where everything actually happens.

In many ways, not knowing what the future has in store brings out in us the qualities we need to grow. For example, it would have been difficult to commit yourself to certain people or projects if you knew they wouldn’t ultimately work out. Yet, it was through your commitment to see them through that you experienced the lessons you needed to grow. Looking back on your life, you would likely be hard pressed to say that anything in your past should not have happened. In fact, your most challenging experiences with their inevitable lessons may have ultimately brought you the greatest rewards. Not knowing the future keeps us just where we need to be—fully committed and in the present moment.