The Art of Living in the Present
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Written by Professor C. S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia series, The Screwtape Letters was written in defense of Christian faith.
In it, you will encounter Screwtape, an experienced devil instructing his young protégée, Wormwood. Throughout the pages of this satire, Screwtape ceaselessly grooms his ward on effective strategies for tempting the human being he was assigned to bring down.
This devilish duo of mentor and mentee had the ultimate goal of ensuring the young Christian continued on a gentle but steady pathway into damnation.
What has this got to do with the Art of Living in the Present? And how does this apply to all, especially those who have not read or may not even be inclined to peruse the pages of The Screwtape Letters?
Aided by heaven, any move a Christian makes to stay upright angers the devil and his minions. Screwtape and his co-devils’ goal was bringing the Christian down, having gradually lured him out of light into infernal dark hell. This sinister goal, he tags as being good.
Written during World War II, in the 15th letter you become privy to Screwtape instructing his ward, Wormwood, on one more strategy he can use to undo the Christian in his heavenward pursuit.
Listen to Screwtape as he instructs Wormwood.
It follows then, in general, and other things being equal, that it is better for your patient to be filled with anxiety or hope (it doesn't much matter which) about this war than for him to be living in the present.
But the phrase "living in the present" is ambiguous. It may describe a process which is really just as much concerned with the Future as anxiety itself. Your man may be untroubled about the Future, not because he is concerned with the Present, but because he has persuaded himself that the Future is, going to be agreeable.
As long as that is the real course of his tranquillity, his tranquillity will do us good, because it is only piling up more disappointment, and therefore more impatience, for him when his false hopes are dashed.
If, on the other hand, he is aware that horrors may be in store for him and is praying for the virtues, wherewith to meet them, and meanwhile concerning himself with the Present because there, and there alone, all duty, all grace, all knowledge, and all pleasure dwell, his state is very undesirable and should be attacked at once.
There, you have it in the last sentence. The phrase "and meanwhile concerning himself with the Present because there, and there alone, all duty, all grace, all knowledge, and all pleasure dwell, his state is very undesirable and should be attacked at once”, sums up the futility of not living in the present.
Part of the devil’s strategy is to get the Christian inordinately preoccupied with regrets or remorse concerning the past and anxieties and apprehensions concerning the future. In either case, his attention is drawn from focusing on the most important present and now.
Applying the lesson
Are you overburdened with thoughts about the past and how fair or unfair life has treated you? Are you overweighed with real and imaginary fears and concerns about the future? If your answer to any of these is yes, then you are not living in the moment. These polar concerns will rob you of the joy of living and enjoying all that life has to offer you in the present moment.
Living in the present - What does it mean?
Living in the present means letting go of the past while not waiting for or allowing your aspirations, uncertainties, or hopes for the future to stop you from living your life now while facing whatever challenges life throws at you. One moment and one day at a time.
Living in the present means letting go of the past while not waiting for or allowing your aspirations, uncertainties, or hopes for the future to stop you from living your life now while facing whatever challenges life throws at you. One moment and one day at a time.
How and why do some people avoid living in the present?
Living in the present could be very challenging. Why? You’re being constantly bombarded by distractions that make it difficult for you to focus on one thing at a time. Thinking about past events or what happened that ought not to have happened will always overload you with unnecessary stress.
Worrying about the future won't help you to tackle the challenges of the present. Rather, you will be borrowing from the future, real and imagined problems and adding them to today's own. These sap you of your much-needed mental strength and physical fortitude which are the very traits that aid your success in your life’s journey.
While it is OK to plan and prepare for the future, realize that grace and strength for tomorrow's problems will be given you when you reach there. That is why the Lord Jesus taught us, Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. ~ Matthew 6:34 (KJV)
How to start living in the present
Unwholesome concerns about the past or the future can hinder your prospects for joy in the present. There is no single person you know, who is entirely immune from past regrets or debilitating concerns about future uncertainties.
Realize that your concerns and fears cannot change the future. Your faith, trust in God's ability to work things out for good, and prayers. In addition to these, being proactive is one of the key elements towards ensuring the future you desire comes true. This was aptly pointed out by my friend Boateng Sekyere in his stellar article - How to Ensure Life’s Surprises Don’t Shock You.
Proactivity can only carry you thus far and no more. While being proactive does help, too much of it can keep you from living. Instead, take life at its pace, living one day at a time. Know this, no matter how well you prepare for it, the future is unknown and full of unknowns.
Make time for those little things that make life tick. In this life, at times little things do matter most and cause great consequences. Don't let life pass you by without really living. Make time for life's so-called little but often most important joys. Make time to play with the children (yours' or others’). Smell the roses, watch the golden sunsets. Meditate and reflect.
Minimize multitasking. Multitasking pulls you here and there. If you fail to limit how much you multitask, your ability to focus will be compromised. It becomes more difficult for you to follow any worthwhile pursuit through to its end. You may pride yourself in your ability to multitask, but unless you do it thoughtfully and less frequently, your level of effectiveness will be less than optimal. Wherever possible, go for monotasking - doing one thing at a time and doing it well.
You don't and won't always have all the answers. That too is OK. And as such, you must not allow yourself to be consumed by past regrets or future uncertainties.
You may pride yourself in your ability to multitask, but unless you do it thoughtfully and less frequently, your level of effectiveness will be less than optimal. Wherever possible, go for monotasking - doing one thing at a time and doing it well.
Your life's journey may have been dogged by many non-salutary regrets about the past. Even now, your anxieties about the unknown future are well-founded. We all do. But, dwelling on the past or future excessively is like traveling away from the home where you belong and refusing to come back.
The present and now is your home.
Start living in the present because there, and there alone dwells all duty, all grace, all knowledge, and all pleasure. By so doing your desired better future stands the chance of being guaranteed.
Let's cherish every moment we've been given. Time is passing by…
~ Kool & The Gang - Cherish (1985)
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