We expend so much time and energy reflecting on the past or worrying about future outcomes.

But while hindsight and foresight serve us in many ways, they can become a hindrance to our growth and lead to perpetual inaction.

Whenever you feel yourself in the malaise of the past/future vortex, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• We will never be happy or content if we are living in the past or the future and we will likely make poor decisions as a result. The best thing we can do is make the best decision based on the knowledge we have today.
• If you find yourself continually saying I’ll do it tomorrow, then this is a sure warning sign that you are not living in the present. Sure, some things honestly can’t be done today, but how often is that really true? The power is in the now so do what you can now.
• What we dream up in our heads is almost always more grandiose or horrible than it will actually turn out…so curb your extreme expectations and accept what actually exists today.
• There is no way we can possibly know what is going to happen and there is nothing we can do to change the past. Worrying about either is a waste of time. By focusing our energy on what we do have the power to control, the past will fall away and the future will effortlessly unfold in front of us like magic.

The past and future only have as much power over our lives as we grant them. So relax and be here now.