“There is no other day, all days are present now. This moment contains all moments.”
An angel in C.S. Lewis’ “The Great Divorce”
Some focus solely on the future when it comes to changing. They feel that if they can just hold out for 21 days, or a month, or a year, THEN the change will be real and lasting. But 21 days starts with 21 seconds, 21 minutes, and 21 hours. In other words, change starts now! In fact, it is ONLY changing NOW that matters at all!
True, a future goal is necessary, and the desire to establish new habits is crucial. But again, habits begin on this day and in this moment ALONE! When people who strive to be different from last year focus on next year instead of this moment, they inevitably miss this vital truth:
God only promises to help people NOW!
Jesus taught his followers to pray for their DAILY bread, not their monthly or yearly provisions. He commanded them not to worry about tomorrow because each DAY had enough trouble. The scriptures teach that TODAY is the day of salvation, NOT TOMORROW.
This is comforting and encouraging because people have perfect control over themselves RIGHT NOW! At this moment everyone’s mind can be focused on whatever they choose. Right now, everyone can be whatever they imagine!
For example, take a man who wants to control his temper this year. Yes, he should be prepared for future provocations. But the best focus is being a gentle spirit presently, when there are no provocations. If he must be concerned with the future, RIGHT NOW he can practice in his imagination resisting provocations. This is beneficial because the mind will learn even when provocations are merely imagined.
“Very often the only way to get a quality in reality is to act as if you had it already.”
C.S. Lewis
Again, people become what they habitually imagine in different situations. The angry woman imagines arguments before they happen. If she imagines patient responses in situations RIGHT NOW, she will change her responses IN THE PRESENT, and in the future.
Yet it is only changing now that matters at all! A twenty one day goal is good only if it is forgotten for the sake of present moments. Real, lasting change begins today, not in the future. Every habit begins in today’s imaginations.
Today!
Now!
This very moment!
No comments:
Post a Comment