Right Now Thinking

This month, as we begin a new year, I am exploring some ideas on how to experience your best year ever.

One idea that has truly had a personal and positive impact on my life is what I call "right now thinking". The concept is to see clearly and embrace what is happening in your life right now.

I spoke with someone who has cancer and is taking treatments right now. They said something so important: "This is not a dream - this is my reality at this time. The question is how do I live in this reality - how do a talk to people about it, how do I handle my fear, my anger, my grief - this is my life right now - I don't want to waste this time and not learn and grow and live."

Sometime ago, I talked with woman who had just told her adult daughter that she had to move out and live independent from her Mother. This is the first time in 25 years that she has not had a child living in the home. She is finally an empty nester. She asked, "What do I do now?" I told her it is time for some "right now thinking". It is not 1986 - the year the first child was born - it is 2011 - how do you live a meaningful and productive life now? What do you want to learn? How do you long to use your time and your talents?

One guy I know is counting down the days until his retirement - even though it is about 5 years away. All his conversations tend to be about when he retires he plans to do this or that. Right now thinking keeps us from falling into the trap of missing the life we are now living. There is nothing wrong with setting goals, making plans for the future, but remember the future is never a given - we have no idea what the reality will be in 5 years. Real life is best lived in day tight compartments - don't get stuck in the past and don't just fantasize about the future.

Right now thinking is not flying by the seat of our britches - no hopes, no dreams, no plans. It does remind us of the daily nature of real life - The Psalmist said it so beautifully, "This is the day that the Lord has made: let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24)

Psalm 90:12 says "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Just thinking, Steve