Much too often, it seems to me like people either live in the past or the future. Just listen to the language they use.

“I can’t wait until…”

“Someday, when I get that promotion…”

“If only I had…” 

Or maybe this sounds more familiar: “Back when I was doing that…”

“I remember when…”

“When I had this…” 

One of the biggest challenges we face in our culture is to just live in the present. I’ve recently been impressed with the many benefits of journaling, and helping us through this specific challenge is one of them. You’re sort of forced to speak in the present tense as you journal. You have to ask yourself: What am I feeling RIGHT NOW? What am I thinking? What am I doing? What is standing in my way?

Give it a try, and see if you can find how your language illuminates whether you’re living in the future or the past–and how can you get to living more fully in the present?