I was planning my conference public speaking speech last month. It was stressful, and I couldn't get a good night's sleep because I was worried about what could go wrong during my delivery.
I need to concentrate on the current moment and live in it to get rid of my anxiety. Worrying about things that would not happen tomorrow was a waste of time and energy. I try to prepare for tomorrow's presentation, but the best way to prepare is not to be concerned. Instead, I should focus all of my intellect and excitement on today's task. That's the only way I'll be able to plan for the future.
Remember that in prayer, we only ask for today's bread. It does not mention the stale bread we ate yesterday, nor does it address how we'll get bread to eat the next day or how I'll acquire bread if I lose my work. No, prayer instructs us to only ask for today's bread. You can only eat the bread that is available today.
My presentation preparation is solely mental. I'd want to imagine my life as an hourglass. Thousands of grains are in the top of the hourglass, and they all pass through the small neck in the middle slowly and evenly. I couldn't get more than one grain of sand through this small neck without the hourglass becoming clogged.
When I wake up in the morning, I have the impression that I have hundreds of tasks to complete that day. Still, if I don't accept them one at a time and let them pass through the day gently and evenly, like grains of sand sliding through the hourglass' narrow neck, I'm going to ruin my own bodily and mental structure.
I'm going to forget about yesterday's piled burdens and am scared tomorrow to prepare my presentation better. I'd have a happier and more valuable existence if I didn't have to worry about tomorrow and instead lived in today's compartments, cut off from the past and future.
I'm living in the moment, standing at the crossroads of two eternities: history that I couldn't change in the past and the future that I couldn't predict tomorrow. I couldn't possibly exist in either of those aeons, even for a fraction of a second. As a result, I should concentrate on the only time I have, which is now. I can bear my weight for one day, no matter how difficult or pleasant it is, until the sunsets. Tomorrow is going to be a brand new day.
Life is passing us by at a breakneck pace. I'm travelling through space at a breakneck speed. Today is the most valuable asset I have. All I have is the present moment. No one ever loses a life besides the one they are currently living. Nobody ever lives a life other than the one they're about to lose.
There isn't much of a distinction between the longest and shortest lives. We cannot lose the past or the future. Our only certain possession is the present moment. As a result, if I want to prevent worry, I should live in the present rather than worrying about the future. Simply live each day until it's time to retire.
Our three most valuable resources are focus, time, and money. Today, the most useful of these three resources is time, and it is the most important to my success and well-being. My anxiety about the speech the next day would not help me perform better. It, on the contrary, causes more harm than benefit. It causes me to have an awful sleep, resulting in little rest from thinking on stage.
Instead of squandering my productivity, regretting the past and worrying about the future, I would have a better result throughout my life if I could optimise and focus on now. The only time I can change things is right now.
Living in the moment, in general, contributes to greater life happiness, personal growth, better social interactions, and self-acceptance. Trust my ideas and feelings, as well as my sense of self, at this time.
I was also able to conquer my imposter condition and stories of feeling like a fraud. I'd feel less deceitful, and I'd be more likely to devise a plan to improve right now. It shields me from danger because I can't change the past or predict the future.
I won't be as embarrassed if I fail by lowering my expectations, knowing that I gave it my all in this particular situation. I need to quit defending myself with unrealistic fantasies and blaming others because I am accountable for my circumstance right now.
I could care less about what others think of me in the future, taking more risks even if they would make me appear terrible, and seeing what I'm capable of right now. Perhaps if I stretch my self-beliefs, I'll be surprised to learn how accepting others are of my flaws. Possibly being more vulnerable and real with others now will lead to greater social connection in the future. We tend to feel more comfortable with people who express our common humanity, including accepting our shortcomings, rather than with those who constantly appear to have it all together because none of us is perfect.
As of now, I avoid overreacting to the social protection system. I could value the present moment with the candid opinion of individuals who appreciate me and respect me. I'd be less concerned with what everyone thinks of me in the past and more concerned with what certain people think of me in the future.
Living in the now can be extremely beneficial in learning to moderate the overwhelming feelings of rejection and humiliation. I am frequently aware of the irrational negative thoughts that constantly circulate in my mind.