I don’t like thinking too much about the future, after all we can only live in the present moment, and thus we should focus on that. But there’s something that I’m thinking more and more lately, and that’s helping me to get a lot of motivation.
It all started with a quote, and it developed in a more general way of thinking.
Ten years from now, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do, not the ones you did.
That’s definitely true. I don’t regret the past for the things I did, indeed I would repeat everything I’d have the chance, but I certainly wouldn’t mind having pushed my boundaries further.
Whenever I think about this, I realize how many opportunities we waste by occupying our mind with the wrong things.
I want you to do a simple test, it wont take you more than a few minutes, and I think it’s very worth your time. Take some paper and write down 10 things you were worried about yesterday. Don’t think too much about them, just write down quickly what’s coming to mind. Got them? Good. Now take a look at them, chances are that one or two of those are something that’s already solved, or something that didn’t matter at all. Now do the same test, but this time try to remember 10 things you were worried one year ago. Chances are that you’re having an hard time remembering about them.
The truth is that we constantly fill our mind with beliefs that are simply not true, or that don’t matter at all. By constantly thinking about the past and the future we are giving up liberty and creating stress. We are thinking too much. It seems odd at first, but the only way that you’ll be proud of yourself ten years from now is to stop thinking about time and to start focusing on the now.
Now is the only time where you can make a difference, where your thoughts are clear, and where everything matters. What happened 1 minute ago is gone, as projecting the future is pure fantasy. Sure, you can always plan based on your previous experiences and with some output in mind, but you can only accomplish your goals by focusing on the present moment. Now, not tomorrow.
I want you to go back for one second on the first list you previously wrote. Now scroll down each item and ask yourself: “Does this really matter in the present moment?”. Problems don’t exist in the present moment, nor do feelings. The present moment is a gift you have, and you can decide wherever to enjoy it, or ignore it by projecting into the past and the future.
But how do you deal with problems? After all life is full of challenges. The simple answer is that you don’t. If a problem doesn’t matter in the present moment then it doesn’t exist. The moment you really have to deal with it (if at all), you give it full attention and then you return on your own things.
But wont you stop to grow that way? No. I do have goals I want to accomplish this month and this year. But I have to work on them now in order to achieve them. Tomorrow will never come.
Even when you work for someone else, there’s a chance that you don’t really enjoy what you’re doing. But if you focus on the now you’ll find it easier to get things done. And if you get things done and you enjoy it (you will if you focus on the now), you’ll be more happy, you’re boss will notice your progress, and you’ll enter into a snowball of positive changes.
So let’s get back to 10 years from now. I sincerely don’t know wherever I’ll still be alive by then, and who I’ll be. But I know one thing for sure, and that’s I would want to have lived my life to the fullest by then, and I can only achieve that by living my life now.
Live your life to the fullest. Now.
Posted on May 21 2010
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Great post. I definitely like these kind of wake-up calls!
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I enjoy writing them as well. Each time intentions (and actions) become clearer and we all gain new clarity.
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It is very difficult for me to live in the present cos since my childhood i ve gone thru lots of miserable situations due to my parents and suffered. Even now i am with my mom who only makes everything worse. So its totally up to me to anticipate problems and find solutions before its too late.
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Yes, but you can only do that in the present moment right? Sorry to hear that.
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Lovely post! I always try to live in the present and not in the past. I worry too much about whether I should have done things that I didn’t do.. Maybe I’ll stick that quote somewhere in my room to remind me
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Definitely do that. For me it was also thinking about the future that prevented me for taking action. There’s always an illusion of time but in reality waiting for tomorrow means giving up in most cases.
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Thanks for posting Oscar. I must say that your blog is one that I check religiously everyday.
Your post made me think of the Mark Twain quote: “I’ve had some terrible times in my life and some of them have actually happened” Mark Twain.
It’s all about perception. I had a similar thought to yours a while back when I was in what seemed at the time to be a terrible fight between a family member and me. All of the sudden I thought to myself, “How will I feel about this in 6 months?” and poof! a wave of calm and assurance that everything would be okay.
Thanks for reminding us all of this tactic. I can always use all the help I can get in remembering it.
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Hey Brian, thanks for your kind words and your support!
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Yesterday is gone and future is no yet here. Today is a gift, and that’s why we call it present.
An as Regina Brett wrote on her column “50 Life Lessons”:
“Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”
BR,
Carlos
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Nice quote, thanks for sharing it Carlos!
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Compared to you’r other posts this one is, how do i say it nicely, not so great.
I really liked your blog because you were specifit, you wrote to the point and gave usefull aplicable tips.
This time you gave a nice quote and the began jellying around and around it, not saying much in the process.
Hope you take this as usefull critic.
Not saying I could do better,
Alex
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Hey Alex, I appreciate these kinds of critics, this is the only way I can really grow. I’m still trying new topics every once in a while to see if people like it. List posts tend to do very well, as well as specific guides, so I guess that’s what you were referring to?
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Yes
Philosophic posts are good too but only if they have a usefull conclusion.
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Hey Oscar, good write up buddy! I really like it, a year ago.. my main concern was making money. ha ha.. it still is, just not as much :)
All the best
—Parker
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Thanks Parker. Yes there are certain things that you always want more. My goal is to eventually reach financial independence, but not necessarily to become rich.
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Ah, Oscar, you made me have a giant click in my head with this:
“I want you to go back for one second on the first list you previously wrote. Now scroll down each item and ask yourself: “Does this really matter in the present moment?”. Problems don’t exist in the present moment, nor do feelings. The present moment is a gift you have, and you can decide wherever to enjoy it, or ignore it by projecting into the past and the future.”
Realizing how things just don’t exist in the present has changed the way I think about things from the past. Simply put: they don’t exist.
Very cool – even though I’ve heard that concept a million times, the way you put it made me truly understand it this time.
For that, thank you.
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I’m glad it clicked for you Brett. Remember that every time that you feel like something is wrong.
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what a great post, oscar. i always leave ur blog feeling very refreshed. i totally believe in that quote, ‘Ten years from now, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do, not the ones you did.’ I think you probably got that from a quote by Mark Twain, which is,
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
That quote stuck with me for some time and I really pushed myself to do things I’ve always dreamt of doing but didn’t do. I’m in Europe studying for 6 months; I knew I would regret it if I didn’t make the decision to come here and instead choose the safer option, which is to stay back home.
Last year my teacher got us to do two interesting tasks which may intrigue you. He told us to
(1) write a conversation of u talking to your 10 year younger self, ie if you’re 23 now write to your 13 year old self. The reason he got us to do this was to reflect on how we’ve changed in the last 10 years. I’ve documented mine in my blog, which u can read here: http://hongyihongyi.blogspot.com/2009/06/comic-23-year-pld-hong-yi-meets-her-13.html
(2)describe how your perfect day is like. then, if u can, challenge urself to make ur day perfect according to what u’ve written. The exercise encouraged me to discover what is important to us; it teaches you more about what u prioritise in life. You can see my perfect day here: http://hongyihongyi.blogspot.com/2009/03/sketchy-mondays-my-perfect-day.html
hope u enjoyed that! wow. i think i wrote too much!
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Hey Hongyi, thanks a lot for your comment. To be honest I didn’t know about that quote. Regarding your first exercise, I tried something similar I learned here: http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/08/my-favorite-meditation/
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Ciao Oscar!!
Thank you for let me think about my life!!!
I have some projects in my mind, that I would like to become true!! …so, after reading your post, I just started to search ideas to make them become real!!
Hope I’ll be able!! Finger crossed!!!
Have a nice Monday!
Lau
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Hey Laura, that’s a start at least! Good luck with all your projects.
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Before I react to something I always run through something very similar to this. I ask myself will it matter tomorrow/next week/next month/next year? This helps me measure what my reaction should be. Like you say, most things just won’t be all that important just a little way down the road.
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That’s definitely something important. I learned to work on stuff that will matter in the long term, and that’s one of the best decisions I ever made.
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Hello Oscar,
This is my maiden comment on your blog but I do read your posts since couple of weeks. What a awakening post!! Hope I’ll start to take action in my own life to achieve goals. Very thoughtful post man! Thank you for nice writing. :)
Cheers,
Sonia
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Hey Sonia, thanks for your support. There’s nothing stopping you from taking action ;)
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There’s some great Eckhart Tolle channeling happening here :) Too many people worry about minor things that don’t have any affect on our lives as a whole and I think it’s important that more people live in the Now and stop worrying about the past. Great post.
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Thanks Derek. This is true in all areas. For example when I set up a minisite I know it will not make money in the short term, but it usually brings 100-200 dollars per year.
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