Should we live in the present moment or set goals and anticipate the future?

The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it. ― Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life

Image by CJ via Pixabay

When we anticipate, we are imagining what that future event will be like and what we are likely to experience when it happens. So we might feel uplifted, excited or hopeful (like the doggie in the picture above, which probably is anticipating the return of its owner) or anxious (such as anticipating final exams).

The anxiety created by anticipating negative events is one of the reasons that teachers urge us to live in the present moment. But they also advise us to set goals and to imagine having already received what we would like to manifest. Hmmm. How do we do both of those things?

Are we living in the present moment when we are anticipating or imagining a positive future? Perhaps not, but we certainly are making our present moment more enjoyable! Maybe that’s the key – finding enjoyment in a balanced way. If life is like a good meal, anticipation is the spice. While we can’t always be anticipating something, we can add a dash of it to spice up the whole.