One of the most important aspects of mindfulness is focusing on the current moment. To paraphrase a Buddhist saying, the past is a memory, the future a fantasy – only now can we act.
Of course, this is logically true. We can’t change what has happened, or any past actions, nor can we affect future changes until we get there. However, we still need to be aware of where we are going as well as where we are now, or we might find ourselves in a place we don’t wish to be.
A future planned for is a future that is achievable. If we are always reactive in this moment, then we give ourselves no clear path forward. We flit from thing to thing, avoiding one pitfall only to land in another.
Mindfulness isn’t just awareness of now, but awareness of what is to come.
Our actions now still need to be given thought as to where they will take us. What we do now will have an impact on future events and what options are available to us at that time.
It’s important to remember the bigger picture, not just the now. Or we might find ourselves jumping over a puddle only to crash into a tree.