If you're like me, learning to live in the present can be challenging when you're always planning for and/or worrying about the future. Setting goals are great and a lot of people are doing just that, particularly around this time of year. While it's important not to get so caught up in your future that you forget to live in the present, there is something you can do for your future right now and that is to have hope.
I recall reading something recently that explains how we can sometimes view our future selves, as separate from our present selves. This can be dangerous when we pile on all the things we say we're going to do onto our future selves. Instead of expecting future you to quit smoking, be 10 pounds lighter, fluent in another language, or whatever your goals may be, you may need to think of it as letting your present self carry some of the weight and be accountable. In other words, what are you doing now to help you reach your goals? Once you know what your goals are, the next step is to believe that you can achieve them. Think of it in this order: Step 1: Dream. Step 2: Believe. Step 3: Achieve.
Have you heard the phrase, "You don't get what you want, you get what you believe"? I think there's real power in believing. If we truly have hope in or for something, it seems that we would never really worry about it; there would be nothing to worry about because we truly believe that everything will work out, will be okay, or will happen for us. Hope is simply the expectation of something desired and when you expect something to happen, it's the same as saying you believe it will happen.
When negative thoughts arise about whether or not you'll "make it" to where you want to be or wonder if you'll attain certain success, it's important to shut it off immediately and not allow your mind to indulge in that way of thinking. The more we dwell on how things will turn out for us, the more likely we'll come to believe it. It takes practice and self awareness when it comes to training your mind to stay optimistic, but when you do, all that mental work will pay off when what you believe in, what you hope for, will begin to manifest.
During the midst of all the gift-giving from the holiday season, did you happen to give yourself something? While you're along for the ride, give yourself the gift of hope - a gift that will certainly be of value on your journey.
