NOW

I realise now that NOW is the only time that exists, although that truth about time took me a while to comprehend.

Our life, you see, is about a series of moments in time, but we often live these moments hoping to improve a future momentto have a better job, to make more money, to be important, to be happy- instead of just enjoying them.

I had that plan.

But the fact is that this momentright NOWis where we create what we call our “future”.

All our hopes for the future and even our memories of the past can happen only in the present moment.  The NOW is that one point where everything comes together.

Irrespective of what happens in life, it is always NOW.

Now, why do I make that bold claim?

Because when you think of the past, it is stored in the mind as a former NOW, and when you think about the past, when do you do it?

You do it NOW.

When the future comes, it comes in the NOW, and when you think about the future, when do you do it?

You do it NOW.

So, there is nothing that we can do that is in any other moment except NOW.Do it now

Try it: Do something yesterday or tomorrow right NOW.

It’s quite impossible, isn’t?

And if you say that you will do something tomorrow, and tomorrow comes, when are you doing it?

You are still doing it NOW.

In consequence, nothing will happen in the futurebecause it will happen in the NOW.

Many of us live life under the assumption that the best is yet to come, that happiness and fulfillment would be attained in the future.

Ask yourself: Are you perpetually trying to get somewhere other than where you are so that you can finally be happy?

We often think that our problems are caused by our situations in life, but attachment to the past and future and denial of the NOW is the problem from my perspective.

Ultimately, there is only one problem in lifenot living in the NOW.

It is only our thoughts, attitudes, and emotionsin the momentthat have power.  So, it’s not what happened in the past to us that prevents us from living a successful and happy life in the present.

Besides, who wants to be one of those who lived their life so carefully that they died like new?

Are you waiting to start living soon?

Waiting is a state of mind because it basically means that you want the future, not the present.  There is an inner conflict between you being here and now, where you don’t want to be, and your projected future, where you want to be.  Ever thought about it that way?

Don’t get me wrong, though, because thinking about the future, being able to delay gratification and goal setting are important as they are essential life-tools.

The mistake is using future goals as a substitute for living in the NOW.

Lifethey sayis a journey; nevertheless, the only thing that is real about your journey are the steps that you take in the present moment, right NOW.  Because you are in the driver’s seat NOW and can go wherever you want.

My motto is: We always have a choice.

On a personal level, I try to let go of the past and I cut down on dreaming about the future, and, instead, create whatever I desire, right NOW, in this moment.

Additionally, I remind myself perpetually that I need to learn to make the most of what is presently in front (of me) and all around me because the present is all that I have since there is nothing else.

If not NOW, then when?

So, what are you doing NOW?

NOW

“This IS it—all there is to life is the day-to-day, the ordinary, the details of the mosaic.” — Tal Ben-Shahar

“Do not dwell in the past.  Do not dream of the future.  Concentrate the mind on the present moment.”— Buddha, spiritual leader

“The future comes one minute at a time.”

“The shortcut to anything you want in life is to BE and FEEL happy NOW.” — Wallace Wattles

“I’m not losing my memory, I’m living in the NOW.” – Me, to my wife, when I again forgot to bring something essential from the supermarket.

NOW is the time to do it

16 Comments

  1. Hi Tacomob,

    Reminds me of Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now”.

    Thanks for the good read.

    • I heard that name before. Need to google Eckhart Tolle to find out more.
      Is the book good?

    • Hi 15HWW,

      Encouraged by your comment I picked up the book A New Earth. I just finished reading it. This Eckhart Tolle is very spiritual indeed. Sometimes a bit too spiritual for me to follow what he is trying to say.

      I do like his assertion that everyone can find “the freedom and joy of life” if they live in the present moment.

      And I constantly remind myself of this truth “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”

  2. Hi Andy,

    Great post. The problem with most of us is thinking, writing, planning, but Not doing anything NOW!

    Get your butt off the chair is theist difficult!

    • Hi Rolf,

      Yes exactly. We so often fall for the most ominous of fallacies. We believe that things can be kept static by inaction.

      As the saying goes: Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skills is knowing how to do it and virtue is doing it.

  3. I just stumbled upon the book “The Time Paradox” by Philip Zimbardo. Thought about reading it.

    Has anyone of you read this before?

    And don’t reply with “read it NOW” haha

  4. A superb article.
    Now is the only truth.
    it is a simple concept but so difficult to implement at so many levels.

  5. Great article :-). I want to buy the clock that says “Now Now Now Now Now”.

  6. Andy,

    You sure know your Zen stuff!

    Namaste

    • Hi SMOL,

      Surely I don’t. There is so much more out there to learn and apply.

      For me the concept of NOW fits into any philosophy, religion or spiritual teaching.

      Hakuna Matata

  7. Hi Andy

    Thanks for drilling in the NOW in my brain. Always enjoy what you are writing. So what are you doing now? Reading my comment obviously? Haha.

    This again reminds us whatever we want to do, it will be now. We will never know whether we will be giving a chance to do it tomorrow.

    I am enjoying my family time now 🙂

    Happy national day!

    • Hi Frugal Daddy,

      You do have scary predictive powers. You are absolutely spot on, I am reading your comment NOW.

      Woah, what grandiose National Day Celebrations we had yesterday. Very impressive. And NOW is the day after.

  8. Never, ever procrastinate.
    Be in control and execute it NOW.

    • Hi Money Honey,

      “Never, ever” is a bit too strict.

      We are human and our ability to think about delay is a central part of the human condition. Life might be a race against time, but I think it is enriched when we rise above our instincts, take control and stop the clock to process and understand what we are doing and why. A wise and unbiased decision requires reflection, and reflection requires a pause. Once decided execute it NOW.

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