True power exists only in the present. There is no power in the past; the past is over and done with. There is no power in the future; the future exists only in your imagination. You have no power to act yesterday or tomorrow. Whenever you project beyond the present, you make yourself powerless because you’re succumbing to an illusion. Consequently, it makes sense to focus your attention on the current moment since it’s the only place you have any real power.
We tend to think of time as a resource that we spend, similar to how we spend money. To complete an one-hour task is to spend an hour on it. How are you spending your day? Where do you want to spend your next vacation? How will you spend your lunch break? Although this is a common way to talk about time-bound events, the framework is technically inaccurate. Time isn’t a disposable resource. You can’t spend time. No matter what you do or don’t do, time passes on its own. You have no choice regarding whether to spend time or not; your only choice is how you direct your focus in the present moment.
In reality, you’re never in the past or future. You exist only in the here-and-now. Even when you remember the past or envision the future, you’re still thinking those thoughts in the present. All you have is right now, and that’s all you’ll ever have. You can’t control the passage of time, but you can control your present focus. That’s it—no past, no future, just right now.
If the only thing that exists is the present moment, then what sense does it make to talk about long-term goals? How can you actually achieve anything?
Understand that you can only take action in the present moment, and you can only enjoy your results in the present as well. You can’t accomplish or experience anything in the past or future because you’re never there. When people learn about goal setting, they often set goals in violation of this fact. It’s difficult to achieve something that’s based on an inaccurate model of reality—such a goal will surely be an uphill struggle.
The purpose of goal setting isn’t to control the future. That would be senseless because the future only exists in your imagination. The point of goal setting is to improve the quality of your present-moment reality. Setting goals can give you greater clarity and focus right now. Whenever you set your sights on achieving something, always ask yourself, “How does setting this goal improve my present reality?” If it doesn’t improve your present reality, then the goal is pointless, and you may as well dump it. But if it brings greater clarity, focus, and motivation to your life when you think about it, it’s a keeper.
Many people set goals and then assume the path to reach them will require suffering and sacrifice. This is a recipe for failure. Whenever you consider a new goal, pay attention to the effect it has on your present reality. Set goals that make you feel powerful, motivated, and driven when you focus on them, long before the final outcome is actually achieved. Avoid setting goals that make you feel powerless, stressed, or weak. Treat this process as a way to enhance your present focus, not as a way to control the future.
Suppose you set a goal to start your own business. You imagine some future point where you’re enjoying being your own boss, doing what you love, and making a great income. So far, there’s nothing wrong with that. Then you think about how much work it will be, the risks you’ll face, and other discouraging thoughts. You’ve left the present and are dwelling in your future illusion. Bring your focus back to the present and realize that none of those things have happened. You’re just making them up. How silly it is to dwell on results you don’t even want!
Instead, try this: think about starting your own business and imagine how great it will be when everything is running smoothly. Now return your focus on the present and consider how this goal can improve the quality of your life in this very moment, not a year from now, not five years from now, not even tomorrow. What does the goal of starting your own business do for you here and now? Does it give you hope? Does it inspire you? Does it fill you with desire? Allow those thoughts to churn through your mind for a while. Consider how the goal of starting your own business improves your life right now. If you see no immediate improvement, then drop the goal and consider a different one.
Do you want to lose a certain amount of weight, begin a new relationship, or enjoy a more fulfilling career? Stop foreseeing doom and gloom on the path to get there, and imagine how each goal can improve your present reality before the goal is even achieved. What does the thought of physical fitness do for you right now? What does the thought of finding your soul mate or the prospect of a fulfilling career do for you? When you focus your attention on these goals, how does your present reality change? Do you feel more motivated? Do you feel driven to take action?
When you set a goal that improves your present reality, what does it matter how long it takes to achieve the final outcome? Whether it takes one week or five years is irrelevant. The whole path is fun and enjoyable. More important, you feel happy and fulfilled this very moment. This drives you to take action from a state of joy, so you’re productive too. Instead of going after goals you think will make you happy in the distant future, focus on goals that make you happy right now.
Whenever you set goals, you can envision a path of sacrifice and suffering by focusing on the illusion of the future, or you can allow the goal to inject your present reality with excitement, enthusiasm, and motivation. Even though it seems like you’re setting goals for the future, you’re really doing so for the present. The better you understand this, the more easily you’ll achieve what you set out to do.
If you adopt this mind-set, you’ll soon learn to set different kinds of goals. As you set a variety of goals and observe how they affect you when you focus on them, a pattern will gradually emerge. You’ll notice that certain types of goals consistently inspire you while others don’t. The underlying pattern behind the former is your life purpose. When you become consciously aware of your life purpose, you can feel inspired and motivated whenever you want just by focusing your attention on your purpose.
* Source: Personal Development for Smart People by Steve Pavlina