{A Dragon Fly Exemplifies The Virtue Of Living In The Moment}
"Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: now. ~Denis Waitley
In Week 31 I looked at how you create the rhythm of your life through the choices you make. Today we are going to explore what it means to live in the moment vs living for the future.
What comes to mind when someone says they "live in the moment"? This has been a discussion point in our home because Marty and I come from different vantage points. I am a person who lives for the future and Marty is a person who lives for the present. I will give you an example. When Marty makes a sandwich, after laying all the ingredients on the counter, he assembles a tasty sandwich and then with sandwich in hand heads into the other room to enjoy it. He leaves all the ingredients on the counter. When I make a sandwich, I follow the same steps he does except I put everything away before enjoying my sandwich. So is Marty a slob or am I just into delayed gratification? No, Marty is hungry and is engaged in the moment and is not thinking about the future and clean-up. I, on the other hand, while I may be hungry envision a future where I have to come back and clean up the kitchen and I don't want that hanging over my head.
What this light hearted example points out is that our ability to imagine our future frames our actions. Teenagers regularly take risks in the moment that could have lifetime consequences. But due to their age and inexperience don't take the time to or can't imagine a future where they have to suffer the consequence of their risky behavior. If as a young person you could really imagine living to the age of 65 and retiring, then you may very well aggressively fund your 401K. The ability to see yourselves in the future allows you to decide on what you are willing to trade today for the imagined future. Of course if you become obsessed with how you are going to live once you reach the age of 65, you will miss out on life now.
Martin Luther, the 16th century theology professor, wrote, "Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree". To live a life intentionally and with purpose, you must embrace today with the understanding that the choices you make today frame the future. Today is lived through the actions you take and the dreams you inspire in yourself and others. But remember the apple tree you plant today will supply the apples of the future. You may choose to live in the moment but don't do so at the cost of tomorrow.
Week 31 Assignment: During your Morning 30 examine whether you "live in the moment" or "live for the future". Do you have a balanced approach in the choices you make for living today and planning for tomorrow?
Get caught up on the entire Intentional Living series:
- Week 1: The Importance of Taking Time to Think
- Week 2: Asking the Right Questions
- Week 3: What is working in your life?
- Week 4: Do you have your priorities straight?
- Week 5: Are you moving forward?
- Week 6: Setting Lifetime Priorities
- Week 7: Decision Time
- Week 8: Planning
- Week 9: Review
- Week 10: Four Reasons Why
- Week 11: Are You Being True to Yourself?
- Week 12: Self Realization
- Week 13: Sharing Your Vision
- Week 14: Do You Have the Key to Success?
- Week 15: Do You Remember When?
- Week 16: Is Course Correction Possible?
- Week 17: Fear As A Motivator
- Week 18: The Crazymaker In Your Life
- Week 19: Stay Focused!
- Week 20: Relationships
- Week 21: Cognitive Gridlock
- Week 22: One Thing At A Time
- Week 23: Cause and Effect
- Week 24: What's Your Story?
- Week 25: Boredom
- Week 26: Exhaustion
- Week 27: A Change of Scenery
- Week 28: Getting Back On Track
- Week 29: How To Say No
- Week 30: What is the Rhythm Of Your Life