This is something I've admitted before, but I can become anxious from time to time when spending too much time worrying about the future. A lot of my spiritual focus is to be more present, a challenge in today's time.
Back in my short stint as a bible believing Christian, I had many favorite passages, and I've thought about the following often as it relates to being present. There remains a lot of wisdom tucked in to the bible, and it's nice to return to it from time to time.
Back in my short stint as a bible believing Christian, I had many favorite passages, and I've thought about the following often as it relates to being present. There remains a lot of wisdom tucked in to the bible, and it's nice to return to it from time to time.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:25-34)
When I decided to live a more frugal lifestyle, I had these passages in mind. Applying these lessons to my life, I decided there's much more to life than having a lifestyle and the high end (heavily financed) assets that are visually "attractive" to others. When you boil life down to the basic necessities and simple enjoyments, you'll find that lifestyle to be surprisingly affordable and one that you're still able to "store away in the barns" for future "security". When you remove the time commitments that it takes to acquire all of the things you believe to be "important" to you, it's amazing how much time you'll be afforded to live and enjoy the moment.
While there is value in working hard and planning ahead, don't exhaust yourself in it to the point where it destroys your 'now'. Assess your behaviors, find out what it is you truly want, and what you're committing to in an attempt to seek the approval of others.
If you want a similar, non bible, point of view - I rather enjoy the following.
“… What about the main thing in life, all its riddles? If you want, I'll spell it out for you right now. Do not pursue what is illusionary - property and position: all that is gained at the expense of your nerves decade after decade, and is confiscated in one fell night. Live with a steady superiority over life - don't be afraid of misfortune, and do not yearn for happiness; it is, after all, all the same: the bitter doesn't last forever, and the sweet never fills the cup to overflowing. It is enough if you don't freeze in the cold and if thirst and hunger don't claw at your insides. If your back isn't broken, if your feet can walk, if both arms can bend, if both eyes can see, if both ears hear, then whom should you envy? And why? Our envy of others devours us most of all. Rub your eyes and purify your heart - and prize above all else in the world those who love you and who wish you well. Do not hurt them or scold them, and never part from any of them in anger; after all, you simply do not know: it may be your last act before your arrest, and that will be how you are imprinted on their memory.”
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago
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