“The truly important things in life — love, beauty, and one’s own uniqueness — are constantly being overlooked.” — Pablo Casals

When we focus on what is important right now, we can become the best we can be even in the most challenging moments. Deciding that the activity or goal in the present moment is the most important thing we can be doing in our lives, we can begin to see things that were previously overlooked due to our distracted minds. Being in the now means that we are not experiencing an urge to be somewhere else, to do something else, or to think about something else.

To achieve this clear state of mind, you must know who you are. Trust that you will do what is right for you at the right time. Mark Twain once said, “I have worried about a great many things in my life. And a few of them actually happened.”

Experience the joy, the self-confidence, and the excellence that comes with living in the now. Let go of what you think should be happening, in order to enjoy and fully experience what is actually happening in your life.

“Life is an adventure in forgiveness.”
— Norman Cousins (1912-1990)

If I were to ask you to remember a past event that caused some sort of negative emotion for you, how would you feel about talking about it? Would you feel all the negative emotions filling up your brain and your heart? Do you begin to feel the sadness, the anger, the frustration of that event even though you are completely removed from that moment in time? It’s almost like the past is reliving itself all over again just by talking about it.

So why is it that so many of us insist on talking about our painful past events, digging up minute details, and allowing ourselves to be caught up in all that emotion all over again? What is to be gained? What is to be improved doing this over and over again with no resolution in sight?

It is my firm belief that you do not have to keep talking about the past in order to work out the issues associated with it. I call it active forgetting. We all know that these types of events don’t just disappear from our memories, even if we don’t talk about them everyday. They are part of who we are. So let us start by understanding and accepting that we have not forgotten and therefore we do not need to refresh our memories by talking about them.

However, in my day to day life, I will not allow myself to be a victim of my past. I will however, actively use that marker as a learning tool, a silent reminder that I use as a clear guide as to what I want my life to be like. I am focused on the now and fill my life with positive energy and love. Therefore, if I don’t want to feel those negative emotions anymore, it is key to not rehash the old events. Focus on present day issues.

I do remember, I do forgive, and I live a life of love from now onward.

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Take all the energy you put into thinking about the past and all the energy that you put into wondering and worrying about the future, and put it all into your present self.

That wonderful, powerful, creative person you are can barely come out to see the daylight when you get lost in all the pasts and futures. Create your NOW and forget about the yesterdays and the tomorrows.

You, as you are right at this very moment, is far greater than anything you have been in the past or could be in the future. Don’t waste away your days spinning your wheels for a different time when this is the moment that counts.

“Without freedom from the past, there is no freedom at all, because the mind is never new, fresh, innocent.”
—Krishnamurti

When we hold onto our past, we do not allow ourselves the freedom to grow and move forward into the present moment. Instead, we carry these heavy loads of upsets, hurts, and regrets over past events which invariably steal our energy and love in some form or another. The worst part of holding on to the pains of our past is that it allows the negative energy to seep into our present and our future.

In order to start living with true freedom we must find closure to these incidents or people that are attached to the pain. We must allow forgiveness to help heal our wounds by choosing to let go of the past wrongs and no longer be hurt by them. Do not let these unresolved issues block you from expressing your greatest self. Imagine how good it will be to have a clear field to plant the seeds for your future.