When you stop to think about it, you realise that we spend the majority of our waking hours either reminiscing about past experiences or ruminating about future events. Both of which are detrimental for our wellbeing. Why? Because we can’t change the past, so reliving it over and over only serves to further frustrate and disappoint us. And as for the future? More often than not, the intricate narratives we concoct in our minds never eventuate in the way we dreaded they might. The bottom line is, we propagate our own suffering each time we relive the past or ruminate about the future. Life is challenging enough as it is, so it makes no sense that we make it worse for ourselves by enduring redundant unnecessary upset! The solution? ‘Don’t sweat the small stuff’. How? By staying in the present moment. This is obviously easier said than done! The good news is that the tool to remain in the present moment is awareness, and we can literally cultivate awareness by strengthening certain neural pathways in the brain using techniques such as meditation. So if you are reading this, then you are clearly on the right path! And better still, mastering this awareness to remain in the present will help lead us to the happily ever after we are all searching for…so whatever you do, keep meditating!
How Not to Sweat the Small Stuff
