With nothing to do but expect the hour of setting off, the afternoon was long… —Jane Austen—
The most important single determinant of how we feel at any given time is our attitude. If we live in the moment, use the moment to the full, we will never be bored and seldom depressed. The surest way to bring on a negative mood is to deny the present, whether by dwelling on the past or by fantasizing about the future.
The past is unalterable; the future, beyond our control. All we have is now, and all we can work with is our present attitude and behavior. Everything that we value, our dreams, plans, and hopes, dwindle to insignificance before the moment. How we act right now is how we are right now. If we let ourselves dodge the moment, longing for a phone call that might not come or eating a candy bar because we’ll diet tomorrow, we’re negating all our best intentions.
I will look to the moment, and miraculously, the future will take care of itself. If I can achieve clarity and honesty right here, today, I’ll give my future a good start.