The Three Types Of "Now".

What is "Now"?

The following passage is taken from The TAD principle. I first heard about this concept through TraderX's site some time ago. I thoroughly recommend it.

"The past and future don't exist. Your mind works hard to convince you that they do, but in reality the past and the future are simply thoughts happening right now, in the present moment.

Does that mean you shouldn't enjoy memories of things that happened in your past? Not necessarily, but there is a fine line between enjoying a memory and rejecting the present moment in favor of clinging to times gone by:

"If only things could be that way again."
"I wish we could go back to those days."
"I was much happier then."

It is easy to turn what you label a "positive" memory into something that gives rise to regret, sadness, or bitterness. Such is the reality of past and future thoughts. When you project into the future, you create stress, anxiety, and worry, as well as fears over what "might happen". And reliving the past creates feelings of guilt and resentment, as well as non-forgiveness of others and yourself.

When we are pulled out of the present moment, we create suffering for ourselves. It's ironic, because you are only here now - it is the only moment you ever have. But, if you aren't mindful of your thoughts, you will spend "now" lost in stories of the past and the future."

We spend so much time thinking about the past (a "now" which we have already experienced) and the future (a "now" which we have yet to experience) that we get sidetracked from thinking about the true now.

How many times have you practiced a conversation that you expect to have in the future? Or tried to mentally run through what you did wrong in a past "now" so that you'll be better prepared "next time"? (By the way, it'll NEVER be the way you imagined it!)

Now is so infinitely small that it can't be measured but, paradoxically, it draws itself out in to infinity. 

Mastering the art of doing the best we can with the present moment will, by default, take care of the future we worry so much about because our now will eventually be that future. Likewise, it'll take care of any "past regrets of the future" because your futures' past will have once been the present...and you're always taking care of that.