Do you ever feel as though you live too much in your future? I know I do. It consumes my mind completely, until even getting out of bed in the morning seems impossible. Not living in the present is a curse I’ve had to deal with all my life, and the thought of the future still manages to take hold of me from time to time, no matter how much I try to stay grounded. Even though I know better than to let myself fall down that spiral, it still happens.
I think a lot of us get trapped in this mindset. We’re constantly told to plan ahead, to work towards something greater, to make sure we’re securing a future that will bring us happiness and stability. But what happens when we become so fixated on what’s next that we forget to live in the now? When every decision is driven by an uncertain future, it’s easy to feel like the present moment isn’t enough—or worse, like it doesn’t even matter.
I’ve had days where my mind races ahead, worrying about where I’ll be in five years, if I’ll be successful, if I’ll be happy, if I’ll have made the right choices. The weight of those unanswered questions can be suffocating. I replay conversations in my head, analyze my decisions, and wonder if I should be doing more, achieving more, being more. It’s exhausting, and it steals the joy from the little things happening right in front of me.
The truth is, the future is always uncertain. No amount of planning, worrying, or overthinking will give us complete control over what’s to come. And yet, I find myself resisting this reality, as if by obsessing over the future, I can somehow shape it to be exactly what I want. But that’s not how life works. The only thing I truly have control over is this moment, right now.
Learning to live in the present is easier said than done. Some days, it feels impossible. But I remind myself that life isn’t just about the big milestones or the far-off goals—it’s also about the small, quiet moments that make up our everyday existence. The sound of laughter, the warmth of the sun on my face, the feeling of connection in a conversation—these are the things that make life meaningful.
So, if you ever feel like you’re losing yourself in your future, know that you’re not alone. It’s okay to dream, to plan, to work towards something greater. But don’t forget to live in the now. Because at the end of the day, the future will come whether we obsess over it or not—but the present? That’s something we can never get back.
Kylee J Peters
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Absolutely amazing! Dead on