Time is a construct of our own design to help regulate the world we have created. No longer do we live by our natural circadian rhythms, but rather by these custom made times that dictate when we are required to function. Even then, while we are walking around with our watches and our phones, able to check the time at a moment’s notice, we don’t focus on the present moment. We are constantly focusing on the past and the future, holding on to things we did wrong while working towards building a better life. However, many of us get so caught up in these thoughts we end up repeating the same day over and over. We hope to make tomorrow better, forgetting that in this moment we hold all the power. Rather, we allow it to continuously slip through our hands because our focus is elsewhere.

Being in the moment isn’t always ideal. The future holds hope for a better tomorrow. Maybe you aren’t where you wish you were at this exact moment and you spend your time dreaming of a day you will be. You are waiting for that perfect job or maybe the perfect person to fit beside you. With these thoughts the present moment doesn’t really hold much value to you. When you devalue the now you risk forgetting the work you need to put in to reach these future goals. While you shouldn’t give up dreaming about your future, it is best to learn how to remember that what you do today is going to add up to what your future holds. Sit around waiting for the future to grant you all the things you dream of and you’ll find yourself constantly craving an imaginary tomorrow and missing out on the now.

Hold on to the past can also prevent you from living in the present. It can cripple you with regrets you may have. Maybe there was something you wish you had done differently or had gone differently. That shouldn’t hold you back from the now, though. Use the past to help you learn and grow. Don’t be afraid of taking those chances and making changes. The past is set in stone; do not live in a place where you have no control. The present allows you all the control you need to shape your life.

The past can never be changed, but the future can when you value the present. Use this moment to grow into the person you envision in the future. Work towards these dreams and you might find them come to fruition. In the past you find wisdom; in the future you find hope.