We all have goals, or something we look forward to. When we’re young, it’s the end-of-school countdown. In high school, it’s prom. In college, it’s the end of finals week. When we’re grown, we’re counting down the days until beach vacation. There’s always something that we’d rather be doing, and it’s sometimes hard to focus on the “right now” when there’s something else to focus on— but, by putting the future on a pedestal like this, we’re giving away our power and not living life to its fullest.

 

“Think process, not just product.” ~Dr. Ron Jenson,  Achieving Authentic Success

 

Success is a journey. If we only think about that beach vacation we’ve got coming up in nine weeks, four days, thirteen hours and forty-seven minutes, we’re doing our present selves a disservice. The present demands your attention. Success is tied up in the smallest moments of the day, when you’re smiling and enjoying life. It is made up of all the small and large decisions we make throughout each day, and little by little, we can make a habit of it. In other words, success and happiness are not just the end result, but the process of achieving it as well. If every point in your day is miserable, can you really say that your end result is a success to you personally?

Life demands a fine balance of structure, reaching goals, and spontaneity. If we truly live in the present, and embrace the journey to success, some unexpected happenings will land in our lap.. It is important to treat these as learning experiences. The unexpected has a unique way of evolving us if we let it.

 

“Forever is composed of nows.”~Emily Dickinson

 

Here’s some tips for Taking Back Your Power, living life in the present, and embracing the journey to success:

  1. Practice “grounding.” Grounding is a coping strategy that is designed to “ground” you in, or immediately connect you with, the present moment. There are many grounding techniques, such as focusing on your breath, an object, or physical surroundings. Any of these techniques will immediately bring you back to the present.
  2. Think about the past in small doses, and make sure you are focusing on the past for a reason (e.g., to identify where you went wrong, or figure out the key to a past success).
  3. Think about the future in small doses, and make sure you are focusing on the future in a healthy way. Do not spend a lot of time worrying about the future, think about the future just long enough to prepare for it and then move on.
  4. Spend your energy on the present to reach your future goals.

 

“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.” ~Maya Angelou