Imagine, just for a moment, letting go of everything you remember. Picture a state where the past doesn't exist in your mind – no memories, no events, no history. Imagine also that the future is a completely unknown concept, not even the next minute holds any meaning yet. You have no connections, no expectations, just the raw experience of this single second.

Focus intently on this moment. Feel your breath moving in and out. Notice how you are observing these words, how your eyes perceive the shapes on the screen, how sounds might reach your ears. Are you sitting? Standing? Is your posture relaxed or tense? How does your body feel – tired, alert, calm, restless? This state, this awareness of the immediate moment, focusing on your current being and surroundings, is often called being conscious. Thinkers like Eckhart Tolle famously emphasize this 'Power of Now' as the doorway to presence. It's about inhabiting the present. This 'now' is the only tangible reality we possess; it's the precise point where memory meets anticipation, but it is distinct from both.

Anxiety: A Ghost of Past and Future

Think about the events that have already happened. In your mind, they exist as memories, recollections formed by your brain. Similarly, thoughts about what might happen are projections, assumptions your brain makes about a time that hasn't arrived. At this exact second, neither the completed past nor the imagined future is part of your immediate, tangible reality. They exist only as thoughts.

Now, pay attention only to what is happening to you and around you right now. Consider what you can currently see, hear, smell, or feel. Does anything in this immediate sensory experience cause you deep anxiety or severe stress? If there were a truly pressing problem demanding your attention right now, you would likely be dealing with that instead of reading this.

So, what does this suggest? Often, the things that worry us are not tied to the concrete reality of the present moment. They are usually past regrets or anxieties about potential future events. These concerns exist powerfully in our minds, making it hard to feel calm, even when our present situation is safe and stable. Our anxieties rarely stem from our present circumstances.

Thinking Clearly in the Moment

Every event in the past occurred in its 'now'. Every future event will unfold in a future 'now'. Our actual experience of life happens in a continuous stream of these 'now' moments. If worry stems from things that aren't happening now, does it make sense to constantly replay past regrets or pre-live future fears?

Consider worrying about a loved one potentially leaving. If that event were to happen, pain would undoubtedly follow in that future moment. But worrying about it endlessly beforehand multiplies the suffering. The pain before the event doesn't usually come from the actual loss (which hasn't happened), but from the fear of experiencing future pain. In essence, you suffer from the fear of suffering. Approaching situations by focusing on the present reality allows for clearer, more logical thinking, less clouded by emotional projections about what was or what might be.

Cultivating Awareness

If reality unfolds moment by moment, then strengthening our ability to stay present can clear our minds. By regularly focusing on the 'now', even for brief periods throughout the day, we can develop greater awareness. This practice helps us detach slightly from overwhelming emotions and make decisions based more on logic and present facts, rather than just feelings.

Develop the habit of checking in with yourself. Ask simple questions: "Am I calm right now?" or "What is happening inside me at this moment?" Monitoring your internal mental and emotional state through this kind of self-observation can become a powerful tool for grounding yourself in the present.

Happiness First, Success Follows

Many view success or achieving goals as the start of happiness. But consider this: perhaps happiness, optimism, and clarity now are the very things that fuel motivation and provide the energy needed to achieve success. A person constantly bogged down by pessimism and dissatisfaction in the present moment struggles to build the momentum needed for significant accomplishments. To become successful, it helps immensely to first cultivate a sense of contentment and positivity in the present.

Beyond Material Wealth

Money is undeniably important. It grants access to resources, experiences, and comfort. However, money itself rarely provides lasting happiness. The positive feelings from purchases or services are often temporary, fading as we adapt. If your current lack of material wealth makes you feel deeply unhappy, consider this thought experiment: If someone offered you a million dollars but required you to instantly become 15 years older – effectively taking 15 years from your lifespan – would you accept?

Most people likely wouldn't, valuing their life years far more than the money. Life itself holds immeasurable value. Yet, think about how much time and energy people spend feeling stressed, unhappy, and suffering over wanting more money or possessions. If you added up the cost of all the things one might desperately desire over a lifetime, it might amount to a significant sum. But could the endless suffering and stress endured while chasing these things effectively shorten one's healthy, happy lifespan by years? Earning what you need requires sensible thinking and effort, not suffering. By failing to appreciate what truly matters – our health, our time, our relationships – we might unknowingly be "selling" precious years of life for a price far too low.

Living Fully, Now

If we truly grasped the immense value of our health, our loved ones, and the simple fact of being alive, right from the start, we might feel inherently richer and happier. This foundation allows us to pursue goals with a clearer head and a more optimistic outlook. Happiness isn't just the destination; it's profoundly about how we experience the moments along the way. Appreciate the present moment. Find reasons to be content now, and you'll build the strength to create an even happier future.

References

• Tolle, Eckhart. (1997). The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment. New World Library.
  This widely known book directly addresses the core concept of the article: the idea that psychological suffering arises from being mentally stuck in the past or future, and that peace and enlightenment come from embracing the present moment. It elaborates on consciousness, the nature of thought, and escaping the "pain-body." Chapters like "Consciousness: The Way Out of Pain" and "Moving Deeply into the Now" are particularly relevant to the article's discussion on anxiety originating from non-present thoughts and the practice of focusing on the 'now'.