One trap that I frequently find myself falling into is dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. I know that I am not alone in this adventure because it is a time-honored part of our human nature. However, what good does it do to fret about things that are already in the rearview mirror? Even better- why all the angst about something that may never come to fruition? Ah, the ping-pong effect of the monkey mind (the constant chatter) - it’s enough to drive one bat s**t crazy (pardon the expression).  So where am I going with all of this? I’ll show you.

All too often we hold on to hurt, sadness, grudges, perceived wrongs against us- the list is endless. What purpose does it serve to still be angry about something someone may have said/done to us in high school (we do this)? How many times have you heard about a family/friend feud that lasted for decades because of what turned out to be a small misunderstanding. Some of the best years of our lives have been misspent because we drew a hard line in the sand. This serves no great purpose other than to deplete our vital life force energy (prana). Always remember that the past is just that and is often unchangeable unless we are willing to reach out and blur the lines on the beach. What about things that are yet to come?

A purposeless routine that my monkey mind likes to do is create scenarios about future events. I cannot tell you how much sleep I have lost during this exercise (I average 5 to 5 ½ hours as it is). For example (when I was working as a fire lieutenant), the night before a staff meeting, I often visualized that said meeting was going to go a certain way- a person or persons were going to say something that led to an argument. Additionally, my brain almost always created a negative outcome for the event, and as a result- I tossed and turned all night.  And do you know what? 99.999% of the time my little “play” was not even close to being accurate. Do not get me wrong- planning for the future is a necessary part of life otherwise we would never have any goals, aspirations, or progress - as an individual, nation, or world. Forecasting the stock market trends is paramount to a healthy economy. While perseverating about trivial matters is counterproductive to a more balanced life. However, it is in the present where we can forge a more purposeful life.

It is often said that we are not granted tomorrow, so why not live as if tomorrow never comes. Our lives are not measured in 24-hour increments, but rather by each tick of the clock (+/- one second).  A common scene that I encountered as a lieutenant/paramedic was the sudden cardiac death. One second, a person was enjoying a quiet evening on his/her backyard deck, and the next- transitioned from this world. This passing of life happens in an instant, which leaves extraordinarily little time to rectify the past or plan for the future. We must learn to live a purposeful life on a moment-by-moment basis. So, how can we do this?

My post fire service career has gifted me the opportunity to be a yoga teacher, reiki practitioner, and personal trainer. One of the greatest blessings that I receive as a wellness professional is to collaborate with clients from all walks of life - who are my constant teachers and inspirations. One such client I worked with in the past is a retired healthcare professional who now devotes his time to helping children in Middle Eastern nations. He described his post-retirement years as “the last great lap around the track” that he wants to make the most of. He further related that our mission as an inhabitant of this Earth is to commit to a life of service to others. I found that to be one of the most profound statements that I ever heard in my life, and am honored to have crossed paths with him in this lifetime. 

To me, a purposeful life calls us to do what motivates, inspires, drives us to do the greatest for the common good of humanity. Be it volunteering, donating to charitable causes, participating in an all-village cleanup day, or mentoring the next generation the best way we can. Our job is to prepare the next ones in line to make the future their own by improving on what we have started. To do this we must live in the present because as the saying goes “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away”.  

Stay grounded, stay purposeful- and don’t let the monkey mind get the best of you.  

Namaste,

Tim