The other night I got to my apartment late and could hear a dog barking once I stepped out of my car. My only thought at the time was, “That dog’s not too happy.” Then I didn’t really think much more about it. It turns out the dog was a perfect lesson in disguise.

That night, I was visiting other blogs reading about how we have no problems right now. This idea perhaps most famously comes from The Power of Now. I have held this belief as my own for some time now; whenever I have a “problem” I take a step back to remind myself that I am dwelling in the past (or future, depending on the situation) and that if I stay in the present moment I really don’t have a problem.

If you are new to this concept, think of it this way: right now, at this very moment, you have zero problems. Maybe your best friend sent you a mean text message, but that happened in the past. Maybe you have bills you have to pay next week, but that’s something in the future, something that doesn’t even exist yet. I have easily accepted this idea, except for the question that has been in the back of my mind, “What if something really is happening right now that is a problem?”
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“Who says I can’t be free?
From all of the things I used to be,
Rewrite my history,
Who says I can’t be free?”

- John Mayer, “Who Says”

There’s no need to think we can’t change everything in our lives in a heartbeat. Think back to when you were a kid with grand plans to become a doctor or firefighter or even the president. The possibilities seemed endless and we didn’t spend our time being pragmatic about our dreams. Recapture that innocence. The world is what we make of it, in more ways than most people understand.

All that matters is this moment; just because you have a history of getting angry quickly or gossiping doesn’t mean you always will. Start the positive change now. Take life moment by moment, choose your own actions, and be the person you’ve always wanted to be. Thinking you can’t change who you are means that you are living in the past and allowing it to dictate your future. Since neither past nor future exist, what you are really doing is keeping yourself out of the present moment, which is all there really is. Do what you want to do and be who you want to be. Make today the day you rewrite your history and truly become free.

Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of nonforgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.

- Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now

One of the greatest obstacles I have had to overcome on my journey has been my obsession with the past.  I have a decent “library” of memories stored away that I love to visit, but I have come to realize that too much attention on what already did happen keeps me from experiencing what is happening right now.

We gain nothing by focusing on the past and missing the present moment.  We fail to experience what is happening around us when we are immersed in memories of what no longer affects us.  (Let me clarify: Should no longer affect us.)  We can learn from the past, we can laugh about the past, but ultimately, we have to leave the past and return to the present moment.  Life is happening NOW.  Make sure you’re here to experience it. [Read more →]