Cultivating Peace in the Present When the Future is Uncertain

“I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.”  - Mark Twain

Can you relate to this statement?  I certainly can! Looking back, I can see that there have been times in my life when I allowed worries about the future to overshadow my experience of the present. Dwelling on potential outcomes drained my mental energy and left me feeling anxious.  However, that all started to change in 2013 when I was introduced to the concept of living in the present moment in books like The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. 

What a difference this made in my life!  At that time, I was dealing with some physical issues and all I could think about was how long those symptoms were going to last.  (I did not know about EFT Tapping at the time, but that would have been so useful for what I was going through!)  I learned to focus my thoughts on the present and cultivate a sense of gratitude for all the things that were going right. The physical symptoms continued for a while, but the mental suffering subsided. 

Here are some things you can do to cultivate peace when you’re worrying about the future:

Practice Mindfulness: Shift your thoughts and attention to the present moment.  Read more about this topic in my blog post on mindfulness.

Express Gratitude: Count your blessings and focus on the good in your life.  Express your gratitude in a journal or consider creating a Jar of Good Things.

Limit Media Exposure: If news or social media triggers worry, consider reducing your exposure to these sources of information.

Practice Acceptance: Acknowledge that certain things are beyond your control.  Embrace the wisdom of the Serenity Prayer and accept what you cannot change.

Plan for the Future: Develop a plan and take steps to execute it, alleviating some worry by feeling prepared.

Let Go of the Outcome: Be open minded about the outcome.  Do the work and let the results happen.

Take Care of Yourself: Prioritize self-care. Engage in activities that promote wellbeing in every aspect of your life. 

Focus on the Next Step: Minimize overwhelm about the future by focusing on the very next step you can take. 

Find Support: Cultivate meaningful relationships that help you. Consult a therapist or counselor when needed.

Establish Healthy Habits: As Brené Brown says, “Do something today that your future self will thank you for.”

And remember, if you’re seeking relief from stress about the future, consider exploring EFT Tapping as a powerful tool for emotional freedom.