Past, Present and Future How to Live in Harmony with Time

Living in the past and clinging to the present
The past is an integral part of our history and identity, as it carries a lot of lessons and cultural and scientific wealth that form our roots and origins. But the past is not everything, there is also the present that we live in and the future that we aspire to. The present is the time when we exercise our rights and duties, benefit from our opportunities and face our challenges. The future is the time when we plan, dream and strive to achieve it. Therefore, we must find a balance between the past, present and future, and not live in one time without another.

The problem of living in the past
If we neglect the present and the future, and become living in the past only, we will lose a lot of opportunities and possibilities that life offers us. Living in the past means clinging to memories and heritage without renewal or development. It also means being dominated by negative emotions such as sadness, sorrow, regret and revenge. It also means lagging behind the changes and developments that occur in the world around us. All these things lead to many problems at the individual and collective level, such as:

• Losing self-confidence and feeling helpless and unsuccessful.
• Low level of optimism, creativity and productivity.
• Weak social ties and isolation from society.
• Spread of conflicts and disputes due to lack of understanding and acceptance.
• Decline in education, culture and health levels.

According to Psych Central, living in the past can cause depression, PTSD or even suicide. They suggest some warning signs of living in the past, such as: conversations seem to revert back to certain times, people or situations; you are attracted to or attract the same type of people that cause you pain; disagreements often surround past arguments; easily bored or frustrated; comparing your current situation to previous ones; prior trauma or painful events replay in your mind; self-sabotaging behavior; emotional triggers that cause you to think about people or situations from the past.

As Eckhart Tolle said: "The past has no power over the present moment."

The problem of clinging to the present
If we neglect the future, and become attached to the present only, we will also lose the practical and futuristic vision that enables us to build a prosperous future. Clinging to the present means being preoccupied with urgent and material matters without caring about important and spiritual matters. It also means indulging in whims and desires without adhering to values ​​and principles. It also means rushing into decisions and choices without thinking about the consequences and results. All these things lead to other problems at the individual and collective level, such as:

• Losing purpose and meaning from life and feeling emptiness and boredom.
• Low level of happiness, satisfaction and faith.
• Weak family ties and moral decay.
• Spread of injustice, corruption and crime.
• Decline in security, peace and development levels.

Clinging to the present can cause anxiety, stress or dissatisfaction. They suggest some ways to be more mindful and live in the moment, such as: notice your surroundings; don't multitask; show gratitude; be accepting; practice mindfulness meditation.

As Mahatma Gandhi said: "The future depends on what you do today."

Solutions to find balance
If we want to avoid the problems caused by leaning towards the past or clinging to the present, we must find a balance between the past, present and future, and not neglect the importance of each time in our lives. Therefore, we must follow some steps that help us achieve this balance, such as:

• Looking at the past to learn from it, not to grieve over it or fight for it. The past is a school that we benefit from its experiences and expertise, and do not succumb to its mistakes or pressures.
• Looking at the future to plan for it, not to worry about it or fear it. The future is an opportunity that we use to improve our lives and achieve our dreams, not waste it in pessimism or fear.
• Looking at the present to work in it, not to cling to it or entertain ourselves with it. The present is work that we perform with sincerity and efficiency, not neglect it in luxury or procrastination.

Finding a balance between the past, present and future can help us move on from our past and live more fully in our present. They suggest some strategies to help ourselves let go of our past, such as: self-reflection exercises; creative activities; forgiveness; therapy; positive affirmations.

"What prevents us from moving forward to a bright future is living in the past and clinging to the present and lacking a practical and futuristic vision. Let’s look at the past to learn from it and move forward to build a more beautiful and refined future."

A.B. Salman

Conclusion Therefore, it becomes clear that living in the past and clinging to the present are two problems that hinder our progress and development as a society wherever that might be. Therefore, we must strive to find a balance between the past, present and future, benefit from each time what benefits us, avoid from each time what harms us. In this way, we will be able to build a more beautiful and refined future for ourselves and our nations.