Do not focus on the “could have,” “would have,” and “should have”…focus on the present and propel yourself forward.

Do not focus on the “could have,” “would have,” and “should have”…focus on the present and propel yourself forward.

Try this visualization technique I practice with my students. Imagine 3 baskets on an electric belt placed right in front of you. The basket on the left is the PAST, the basket in the middle is the PRESENT and the basket on the right is the FUTURE. Now turn on the switch for the electric belt so that it is rolling forward with the baskets, turning around again and again so that the 3 baskets are in front of you one at a time.

Close your eyes and relax. Visualize the belt with the 3 baskets moving in front of you. Become aware of each thought coming into your head. Analyze each thought as it comes and goes. Ask yourself each time a thought comes in, “Is it a thought about something in the past?” “Is it a thought about something in the present?,” “Is it a thought about something in the future?” Depending on which thought it is place it in the right basket through your mind’s eye. The process keeps repeating for about 5 minutes and the timer goes off at the end letting you know to stop.

Gently open your eyes, and weigh each virtual basket. Which one is the heaviest? The PAST, the PRESENT or the FUTURE? ONLY you have the answer and only you will know where your state of mind is most of the time!

Many of us choose to stay in the PAST and focus on could have, would have, should have. Our awakening begins in the present by reflecting progressively on the past. But the past should be used to learn lessons from, to gain experience from and to use it as a tool to urge us forward. The past should never be a place where you dwell in the misery or happiness. Use each of these states of mind to push you forward, to progress, and to enlighten yourself on the path to freedom. Bring yourself to the present moment so that you can take ACTION in the present to go forward.

Many of us choose to be completely futuristic thinking, and we love to make one plan after another, and are always in the future. This is good if you use the future to come back to the present so that you can start ACTING on the plan right here, right now. “Plan your work and work your plan,” that is how it really works. Just planning and not acting takes you nowhere!

So ALWAYS focus on the present moment, using your past experiences and lessons learned to work in the present moment for a future goal. Do not worry about what happened in the past; on what could have, would have and should have; instead use them to propel you towards your passions, dreams and goals. :)