Which one do you focus on? Which one should you focus on? Which one feels like it brings you the most peace? And the most anxiety? Is staying present the answer, or a good goal to have, or is inaction in the present more likely to lead to a future you won't be able to attain?
There's obviously no right or wrong answers here. I'm just curious if there's any more common thinking.
The past.
The present.
The future.
Select gender and age to cast your vote:
Please select your age
Do you feel like you focus more on the past, present, or future?
I do focus on what I should and that's the time being... this is where life has taken me, and this is what most of my life has been... because of reasons many, I can hardly ever plan that much into the future, and whichever plan I ever had... life just happened.
Life is challenging, and I've had some of that... especially in the past and the very early years and with that, I am at now at peace, peace and joy is what the past brings me the most... and that, is something I didn't have back then, back then I used to worry way too much about it all past, present and future, and it only lead me into vicious cycles that could have very well been seen as inaction. The times of that, although not entirely, are pretty much gone.
So, this is where I am now... at peace with my past, focused on the present I have to deal with first, and perhaps uncertain about the future but not uncertain about the fact that I want to present in the future... and how will that go, I don't know yet... I don't need to know it exactly either (surprisingly,) but I sure will be making big decisions from now on, perhaps some of the biggest in my life... and about that, only time will tell how it goes...
I focus on all three when Iām alone with my thoughts but in all honesty, I focus on the present. Iām philosophically a Buddhist so I follow a similar life code of just taking it all in , being aware in the present moment. Iām happy just being alive and enjoying another day Iām still able to see the sun, sky, the people in my life to the stranger on the train who is just going to work so they can feed their family.
I enjoy taking time to breathe it all in, I know of some people who arenāt here, one day I might do the same for right now, they would want me to just be happy with the present
Iām terrible with truly being present. I like to reflect a lot on experiences in the past and I always feel like Iām wishing time away towards weekends or celebrations. Thereās beauty in the smaller moments and I often have trouble with being right in the moment. I think one of the biggest reasons is because Iām a āfeelingsā personā- nervousness, excitement, whatever it may be, Iām focused on analyzing the butterflies in my stomach or singing along with the music to observe or retain as many external things. Itās why Iām terrible at recalling conversations verbatimā I remember the emotions behind your eyes as you were saying it, but not precise dialogue.
Beautiful comment. š I relate. I think it create more joy, but also more intense pain, always being so aware of these types of things. (Although I remember dialogue, unless under state of extreme stress.)
I feel like I focus more on the future and I should really focus on what's going on in the present. My mom says I think too far ahead and that I should take things one day at a time. I think the present brings me the most peace and the future makes me the most anxious
The past, because the past was much more fun. It was freer too. People weren't so uptight, stressed, puritanical and downright rude. Back then, children would play in the sun, not sit in their dark room all day staring at a stupid screen. No internet, no mobile phones, no "social media"! No NPC's, no snowflakes, no political correctness. Better music too. Better movies. No one cared about politics, and no one was EVER "offended"! There were only two genders, not 731. Who you "identified" as was completely irrelevant, and people were hired on merit, not to fill some stupid quota! Take me back to 1987. Is there anyone out there who has a time machine?
Do the past is over even if I could change something I wouldn't
And nowadays you have to live in the present because our world is changing and we're headed being slowly manipulated into type in the bullshit do you have to pay attention to where you're going that day
I'm always thinking about the future because I want to know where we are headed I look at it like this we can either allow it to go into negative place or we don't allow it. It's all of our choices and with the covid-19 I have not met one person yet they got covid but what I have witnessed is lots of people with leg problems swollen legs with blisters on them.. stomach problems. Headaches it's a whole different type of sickness than what covid is
I'm informed by the past - my own experiences as well as world history. Without knowledge of the past, we are ignorant and vulnerable. But I don't live in it.
I plan for the future in order to, hopefully, insure comfort for my wife and I as we grow older. Also, in this day and age, I'm increasingly concerned for humanity and the planet. So I do what I can to promote peace, love and liberty while opposing the forces of darkness that are bent on enslaving humanity. But I don't wallow in despair or fear at all. I try to maintain a light hearted attitude. And my best way of doing that is to come back to the present, think of friends and family, look at the natural diversity and abundance of nature right outside my door, and be grateful for what I have.
I try to focus on the present and what I can control and how I feel. I have been investing more into stoicism since I talked with my old man and it falls in line with what I believe.
I will admit that I dwell in the past on certain things that really affected me and it in turn make shakes my focus of the present sending me to catastrophize the future.
When Iām at my lowest, I drift in my thinking to the past. On a day to day basis, I try to live in the moment. Sometimes, especially when Iām driving for some reason, I think of the future. My brain likes to play tricks on me and many scenarios play out in my head and that sometimes stresses me out, but my heart and soul beg to differ. I believe the future is bright and that everything will eventually be good.
I cannot choose one. However, when I focus too much on the future I can feel anxious. When I focus too much on the past I can feel depressed. I feel the most balance when I live in the present, but it is a constant struggle to maintain that, so I live in the past sometimes, dream about the future sometimes, and work through the present all of the time.
My past carries a lot of good and happy memories really only certain spots in my past when raising my girls those are my favorite memories with dirt bikes thrown in there also but a lot of my past wasnāt good as far as the present it tends to suck a lot somewhat depressing and the future is looking somewhat scary for everyone. Itās important to remember the past appreciate the present and to look forward to the future and be positive on what on it could bring
Present No one can change the past, it's something you can learn from. Future isn't really predictable in all aspects of individual's life. Of course having plans isn't bad, however often it's more or less just wish think and you need a new plan adjusted to current reality.
I think it has been said to be constantly in the past is living in depression. To live in the future it's anxiety and if you're living in now you're at peace.
I do focus more on the future I mean I am a planner kind of a guy and my goals are all set for this year and half of the next year, so I do have to think about what I can do in immediate or long term future
Don't live in the past, but never forget the past, it's part of what shaped who we are today, abd live in the present but plan for the future, so I guess I'd say all are equally important
at the moment im focusing on the future and my planned move to bulgaria and that really helps me deal with the reality of my present too... the past is done
I have spent most of my life looking towards the future. Since the pandemic I have had an opportunity (I am not sure opportunity is the right word) to look backwards at my live and GaG has given me the chance to write about some of it.
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