The brain doesn’t like to be in the present

Mindfulness is not just about focusing on the task at hand but also being in the moment. We can remember to come back to the here and now by following our breath. We can also sit back and observe what is happening. Observing our thought and actions. I am surprised by how much my thoughts wander on a minute-by-minute basis. They say the days are long and the years are short. That’s because our brains are wired to create a predictable future. We, therefore, make predictions and choices that architects a foreseeable outcome. It isn’t a crystal ball but we can really agonize over it. Missing the moment in front of us to just get to the next.

“If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.” – Lao Tzu