How to disengage from the future

Chloe has a children’s book called Milton’s Secret: An Adventure of Discovery through Then, When, and the Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and Robert S. Friedman, which really simplifies the concept of living in the present moment, and how the practice of that will eliminate, for the child in the story, fear and worry.

He wanted to explore that in regards to his business, with a slightly different slant. I wonder if you, like many of my clients, and myself from time to time, are so hooked on the future that we are missing out on the NOW and not fully enjoying the journey.

So how do we disengage from it to allow what we really want to happen without always feeling like we’re striving for it? Here are 5 ideas:

1. Drop the goals that keep you from the present.

Let me first say that you can have anything you want, and there is no judgment here about what those things are.

With that being said, do you want a mansion, to be the #1 speaker in your market, to have the largest email list in your market, to be a New York Times bestselling author, to make a million dollars? There’s nothing wrong with any of those lofty (and completely achievable) goals.

And what happens is that when we’re so focused on the sexy dream, we tend to make ourselves laugh so hard about getting there that we miss out on all the amazing things that are happening NOW.

What I have noticed is that people get impatient, sad, frustrated, and even angry when they are so focused on the future goal that the present seems uninteresting at best and hopeless at worst. The antidote? See #2.

2. Polish the present

I want to encourage you to stop trying so hard and thrive in your present. What I mean is that if you improve what you already have and polish what is already good and works, you raise the level of your life without spending that energy on something that doesn’t exist yet.

Yes, it’s about appreciating what’s already good and right in your world and your business AND it’s about how you can make what’s already there fulfill you even more. It is true that if you make the most of what you already have, you will get more and better with much less effort on your part.

3. Do not plan so much

I like to have the big plan down to the day-to-day details, and yet I know that most of the time, the plan changes.

One of the reasons we as business owners plan so much is because it gives us a sense of control and helps alleviate fears and doubts we have about knowing what we’re doing.

So have the plan and be willing to be flexible with it. Let it be a guide but not the only path. If you get involved in THE PLAN, you and your business won’t be able to adapt quickly when things change, and they always do.

Assess whether you spend more time planning than doing, and if you do, stop right now. And if you tend to fly by the seat of your pants more often than not, you may want a lightly built frame around you to give you some sense of stability.

4. Get out of the fighters club

Stop trying to acquire a better future with others who strive. It’s too exhausting. I’m not saying surround yourself with lazy people, but get out of the overdrive club if you want to relax into a compelling present present instead of a grueling future still ‘out there somewhere’.

5. Get off the ‘if/when’ roller coaster

I admit that this is a hobby of mine. Not from decisive people, but from people who use it as an excuse for not being happy now. When you make ‘if/when’ statements, you are living in the future. Dreaming and visioning is one thing; otherwise it’s a holding pattern for you, but even worse, you’re not enjoying where you are right now!

Now take and implement these five ideas to disengage from the future and enjoy the present.