There is a great book that really needs no introduction. Written by a genius in the person of Eckhart Tolle, The Power Of Now is simply amazing. It is a book that talks to you directly and gives you powerful insights about way people relate to one another and to themselves. And it constantly encourages the reader to experience the present moment. The now. To spend more time in this moment, taking in the entire amplitude of it. I really encourage you to read this book. If you haven’t yet, it will give you a new perspective. If you have, it will be like a visit from an old friend and you will still find out some new stories and insights from this old friend.
But it is not that Power Of Now that I am going to refer to here. It is about the immense power that we have in the present, over our future.
Living in the moment
A lot of people like to live in the moment. And it is a good thing to do that. We discussed about Eckhart Tolle’s book, yes. But this is not what most humans around us think of when they refer to ‘living in the moment’. But more like living today, without thinking about tomorrow. Spending all your available resources now, thinking that you might die tomorrow, without having enjoyed all the beauties that life has to offer.
But is that true?
It might be… Life might end tomorrow. And that is applicable to anyone, no matter how rich, how healthy, how happy or decent. The point is to live like there is no tomorrow, yes, but not in the sense of betting it all on red. Don’t extenuate all of your resources just to ask yourself tomorrow what you’d need to do to survive. Be smart about it. Living in the moment is not about a lavish lifestyle and hoping for the best, but about spreading joy, feeling grateful, feeling fulfilled with the things that you do, knowing that you can do so much more.
That is what living in the moment is all about! About the joy of the present, having an eye onto the future.
Self-love or self-sacrifice
These two concepts are quite the opposite, aren’t they? Well, things might get confusing at times. Normally, when we talk about self-sacrifice, we think of how one gives up their own interests in order to help others achieve theirs. That is one definition and it does, in a way, hint at compromise. The majority thinks about not enjoying their present moment and living below their means as a compromise. Is it a compromise? Is it in a way a self-sacrifice? Depending on how you want to see it.
I, for one, see this as self-love. What you do now will determine how things will be in the future. If you decide now to also care for your future self, that future self will look back and be thankful. In other words, you will thank yourself for loving you enough to care. Keeping an eye onto the future is important. But we tend to forget about why we do the things we do.
Sowing season and reaping season don’t happen at the same time. They come with a delay. First you sow, then you reap. After a while… It takes time to see results. And it is all intended that way. So why wouldn’t you give yourself the time?
Now that I am writing and thinking about this, self-sacrifice doesn’t need to be seen as the opposite of love. It is more something that can be done out of love or other emotions.
For instance, let’s say you have a child or a loved one. If you love them that much and you would be willing to give up a momentary pleasure of yours for maybe one of theirs, that would be self-sacrifice. But not even self-sacrifice has to be seen as something that victimizes you. It really depends on the context. In a situation like this, where you give a little something up, so that someone else can benefit more, that is a gift that you are giving. It is a beautiful gesture that states ‘dignity’ and ‘care’.
So going back to your own self, if you ever think that giving up a momentary pleasure for a better future would be a gesture of self-sacrifice, it would be. But not in the sense you’ve always understood. It will be in the sense that you are giving it up now and gifting it, out of pure love, to the future you. You are investing all that you are and you have today into the YOU of tomorrow.
The Time To Act
I keep coming back to a saying… “In a few years, you will certainly arrive. The question is where.” And it moves me every time, because I realize the importance of having a direction in which you’re going. After all, if you don’t know the destination you want to get to, why are you even going? Just to roam around the map? To waste this precious time that we call life?
Ok, but what does the destination have to do with the now and the present moment? Well, focusing on the future and seeing the future with clarity, knowing where you want to be in 5-10-20 years is the destination you have. You know where you are coming from, that is for sure. But you have to know where you are going, too.
If the last 10 years of your life have been miserable, the next 10 years of your life are likely to be about the same. Unless… Unless you change. The time to fix the next 10 years of your life is now. The time to make the important changes is now. The time to adopt new attitudes that will change your future is now. The time to act is now. Take all the lessons you’ve learned throughout your life so far and use them. Use them and apply them now in your present life to have the future you’ve always desired.
And if you don’t yet know what that future is or what the actual steps of getting there would be, reach out to me! I will help you and hold your hand along the way. Message me on my socials @danielccoaching. Or write an email to support@danielccoaching.com and work with me. I would be happy to serve you and to be the sounding board you need in your way to success.
Bless you,
Daniel C
Daniel C Coaching 