Favorite Inspirational Quotes

I can feel guilty about the past, apprehensive about the future, but only in the present can I act.  The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.

Abraham Maslow

I’ve journaled about the ideas in this quote before.  I like, however, how he points out that action is only taken in the present.

I can’t act on all those mistakes I made in the past and change them.  I can act right now to rectify them the best I can and to make apology for those I should.

In the same way I can’t reach into the future to make it all I want and do away with all the possible futures that worry me.  But I can act now as best I can to create that future I do want.

Then, too, knowing the acts I perform today will be my past when tomorrow arrives, if I would rather be satisfied than guilty, I must do my very best today to create a beautiful present that will become a beautiful past.  I hope I presented what I was thinking straight in all that past, present and future in that statement.

This gives a lot more credence to the post of yesterday on excellence.  If I want an excellent past, a beautiful past, with no regret or guilt, I will do excellent work today.  When tomorrow is today and my today the past, I will have excellent memories rather than guilt.

Those excellent memories are made in the here and now.  So, if the only place I can really act is now and here, then it makes sense to keep most of my attention here and now.   I certainly am not going to be mentally well if all I ever do is stay guilty over the past and fearful of the future.  What a nervous wreak I would be.  Now is where I can act so now is where and when I should focus on.

Tags: guilt