The other night I went out with a couple of friends to look at the stars because we heard there was a possibility we would be able to see the Northern Lights due to a particular placement of the earth. So there I am, casually tagging along to catch a glimpse of a natural phenomenon, and when I get out to the destination of the open field I start to get a little mind fucked.
My head was going crazy looking at the abyss surrounding me, which pushed me to ruminate on some life things, largely about the concept of time. Billions of years are behind us and there are hypothetically billions to come, and here we are in this moment.
Naturally, these thoughts translated to conceptualizing about where I am in my life. Seeing as I am becoming more familiar with this “adulating” lifestyle, I have found it important to acknowledge these moments because thinking is good.
Past, present, future: three undeniable periods of our existence, but how do we acknowledge each of them without letting one overpower another?
Living in the present is full of excitement, risk taking, and openness, but from my experience, being fixed in that one place can cause you to put up your ignorance blinders. However, dwelling in the past can cause you to be a grudge-holding over-thinker that is cross and unfriendly. While jumping to the future can cause you to over-plan, setting you up for disappointment if things don’t pan out in the “right” way.
The key is to create a synergy between these three elements.
How do we go about this? Look to the past to learn, acknowledge the future for what it holds, and simply exist in the present.
In looking to the past, you must go about it in a delicate and non-judgmental way. First, reflect. Find a quiet space, go out in nature, lay in your bed, turn off your television or put on some good music, and reminisce a little. It can be intimidating to be alone with your thoughts, turning off your phone and removing yourself from the society we so desperately have worked hard to become an accepted part of. But by letting your thoughts wander you are able to come to conclusions that wouldn’t have been tangible when your mind is clouded with everyday fog.
When acknowledging our past experiences it is essential to note what held you back and what has lifted you up. Relationships, addictions, preconceived ideas- recognize what they are, how they got a hold of you, how to avoid that in the future, and what to replace it with. With that, there are so many good things that exist in life. It is invigorating to look back on experiences and relationships that have given us life and decipher what about those things has made life so good and how to make it constant.
Then, look to the future. It’s there. You can’t deny it.
Nobody knows exactly what is out there and that unknown is most definitely frightening. But it has to be acknowledged. Why? Because if we don’t acknowledge that there is a point to move toward, we’re going to become stagnant beings living only for now, becoming content with whatever that happens to be; not pushing to move forward, not inciting change, not living to the fullest.
A quote from one of my favorite movies, Garden State, says, “Good luck exploring the infinite abyss.”
I think this beautifully encompasses the energy one must possess to live in the now whilst pushing toward the future.
Yes, it can be embarrassing and even painful to look back at the past and daunting to acknowledge the future, but once you conquer this, life in the present is light, exciting and precious.