Anxiety, living in the future: In recent decades, technology has brought advances that we never thought possible, inventions that today seemed almost fanciful are part of our daily lives, such as airplanes, smartphones and genetically modified foods. We’re connected in real time, to everything that happens in the world. We have access to more knowledge than at any other time in humanity, but there is one thing more that science has not been able to unravel: the future.
There’s not a single person on this planet who knows what’s going to happen tomorrow, did I say tomorrow?You don’t even have to go that far, you can’t even know what’s going to happen in the next minute!You can assume you’ll finish reading this article, but what if the connection breaks?What if the computer breaks down? Let’s face it: are you and I not sure about the future, whether it’s 100 years or 30 seconds. It’s a sign that we can all learn a little bit about Eastern Zen philosophy.
- If you’re like most people.
- Your mind is never in the present.
- You wake up in a hurry.
- Thinking about all the things you need to do.
- Have breakfast checking your email (Instagram.
- Facebook.
- Twitter) and be anxious because you’re late.
- When you’re at work.
- Do you start thinking about lunch?and while he’s having lunch.
- He thinks about going back to work.
- After this grueling day.
- All you can think about is going home.
- And guess what: when you’re home.
- Take care of your mind with everything you’ll do in the next few days.
It sounds pretty exhausting, doesn’t it, that’s why you’re always thinking about this long-awaited holiday trip!(By the way, I’ve already written an article about it, tourist mode?)
Make no mistake, making plans is not a bad thing, but when you start to believe that you can only be happy after doing this or that, that’s when you fall into the endless cycle of anxiety and existential emptiness. They’re so stressed and unhappy these days is that they’ve been made to believe that happiness is still there, just around the corner. Is it a feeling you’re almost there?but it hasn’t arrived yet.
“If I lose a few extra pounds, I will love my body
“Another 2 weeks and I’ll be on vacation.
“Can’t wait to buy the new iPhone 7. ?
“I’m so close to getting this promotion. “
It’s like you’re incomplete, and you can’t relax and enjoy it until you find the missing part. The problem with this approach is that you put a gap between the real and the ideal and tell yourself you can’t. be happy in the present.
However, I have good news for you: yes, you can.
It is possible to live the present, enjoy the moment and be happy even without achieving the goals you set yours, in fact, isn’t it that hard to achieve?it’s definitely easier than being anxious and stressed all the time.
When we perform our daily routines, we are rarely really there. Is this called a state of low consciousness?Do human beings have this incredible function of?Autopilot allows us to perform daily tasks without even thinking, while our minds are busy planning for the future. . With a low consciousness comes anxiety, stress and lack of purpose; we have the strange feeling that we are only robots following a script. Is that also why we think that time passes too fast and that life looks like a blur without definition?because our minds are in fast-forward mode.
But then, how do we get back to the present?
There are dozens of techniques to learn to live in the present moment, but they all come down to one key concept: does mindfulness mean being 100% aware of what you’re doing, without distractions?And especially without doing two things at the same time. This is called concentration, and it is at the heart of Zen philosophy. When you wash the dishes, wash the dishes. When taking a shower, bathe; when exercising, exercise.
? “All right, so what?
And then? Forget the ‘after’, forget about the future. Remember that the past is a memory and that the future is an illusion. The only real thing in your life is the present moment. A good tip to help create a mindfulness habit is to focus. For example, let’s say you brush your teeth: don’t try to finish as fast as possible, be more aware of each movement. Imagine this is the only time in your life that you brush your teeth, so it’s a new experience and a unique opportunity. Focus all your attention on this simple task and do it perfectly.
Why do you think Eastern philosophy cares so much about tea rituals, martial arts practice, calligraphy, etc. ?Why are they simple habits, but they draw attention to “perfect practice. “
I know it sounds very silly, but the results are powerful. There is a saying (also of Zen philosophy) that says, “The way a person does things is the way he does everything. “This means that if you start practicing mindfulness on small things, you’ll soon begin to notice that your whole life has changed for the better.
It’s as simple as that. If you want to escape this endless spiral of frustration, anxiety and existential emptiness, just pay your full attention to the present with this new habit of doing perfectly small tasks.
In the end, is it just a choice between pursuing the future, which will never come, or getting rid of this unattainable illusion for once and embracing the reality of now?Where every moment is a perfect experience that represents your whole life.
Do you think you can only be happy after achieving your goals or do you think happiness exists in now?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Is there only the present moment?a now that is always and perpetually new. Isn’t there yesterday or tomorrow, but only now, like a thousand years ago and what it’s going to be like a thousand years from now?Meister Eckhart?