The power of being present

What occurred in the past, you have already survived. What lies ahead of you, you will survive, too.

by Ada Porat— 

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Perhaps you want to read that again: What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

Some folks are burdened throughout life, haunted by memories of the past. They keep thinking, “If only I had done this” or “What if I had chosen that?”

The truth is, all of it lies behind us. What happened in the past is over now — no matter how big it looms in our memories.

Other people are consumed with anxiety about the future. They constantly worry about what might happen or what could go wrong. They live in a continuous state of fear about their work, income, relationships, health and global warming. The list is endless. In reality, these too are tiny matters, because the future has not arrived yet.

Emerson reminds us that the solution to both our regrets and our fears lies within us. The power to deal with anything life sends our way lies within us. You and I have intelligence, determination, love, persistence, creativity and power within us.

What occurred in the past, you have already survived. What lies ahead of you, you will survive, too. If you need professional help to untangle yourself from obsessing about the past or the future, get it — your life is waiting.

Let the past go. Expect the best for the future. And live in the present where you can enjoy it.

Ada Porat is an energy kinesiologist and life coach who helps people live their best life. 602-283-4628 or www.AdaPorat.com.

Reprinted from AZNetNews, Volume 30, Number 6, Dec/Jan 2012.