The Present

The Present - Spencer Johnson (The Gift that makes you Happy and Successful at Work and in Life)

Success is progressing toward whatever you think is important. It may be good grades in school, doing well in sports, having a good relationship with parents, getting a good part time job after school, and then getting a raise in job, enjoy life and appreciate what you have.

Success is something we all define for ourselves at different stages of our lives.

I feel good when I loved what I was doing and I keep focus on what I am doing.

The Present is a gift you give to yourself. Only you have the power to discover what it is. No one can find the Present for someone else.

In order to find The Present for yourself, think of the times when you were the happiest, and most successful.

The Present is not the Past and it is not the Future. The Present is The Present Moment! The Present is NOW!

Being in the Present means focusing on what is happening right now! It means appreciating the gifts you are offered every day. You are aware and focus on whatever you are doing. When you are in the Present, you feel happy and successful.

Even in the Most difficult situations, when you focus on what is Right. In the Present Moment, it makes you Happier, and gives you the Needed energy and confidence to deal with what is wrong.

Most situations are a mix of good and bad, right and wrong. It depends on how you look at them. The more you look at what is wrong, the less energy and confidence you have. That's why when you find yourself in a 'bad' situation, it is important to look for what is right, even if it is hard to find. Then appreciate it and build on it. The more you appreciate what is right at the moment, the happier you are. You become more relaxed, and it is easier then to stay in The Present.

What if the Present is very painful, like experiencing the loss of a loved one? Pain is the difference between what is, and what you want it to be. Pain in the Present, like everything else, is constantly changing. It will come and go. When you stay fully in the Present and have felt the pain, and feel drained by it, you can begin to look for what is right, and build on it.

It is important to experience painful situations and learn from them rather than try to distract yourself with something else. Even in difficult situations, I need to tune out the unimportant distractions that keep me from being in The Present.

In a relationship, you need to focus on the whole person. By being more aware of their 'good' or 'bad' qualities, you can address potential problems, instead of being side-tracked by them.

Focus on what is happening at the moment. Appreciate what is right about the situation, and build on it. Pay attention to what is important NOW.

It is Hard to Let go of the Past if you have not learned from the Past. As soon as you learn and let go, you improve the Present. You must not live in the Past but it is important to use the Past to learn from your mistakes.

Anytime you are unhappy in the Present or feeling unsuccessful, it is time to learn from the Past or Plan for the Future.

There are tow things can rob you of the joy of the Present: your negative thoughts about the Past, or your negative thoughts about the Future.

Learn from the Past:
- What happened in the past?
- What did I learn from it?
- What can I do differently now (to have better result)?

Use what you learn to improve the Present.

If you behave in the same way, you get the same results. But when you behave differently, you get different results. The more you learn from the Past, the fewer regrets you have. And the more time you have in the Present.

You cannot change the Past, but you can learn from it. When the same situation arises, you can do things differently and enjoy a more successful Present.

Living in the Future makes us anxious because we are not sure what will happen. The only way to make the Future better than the Present, other than to get lucky, is to plan for it. Planning for the Future reduces fear and uncertainty, because you are actively taking steps toward future success. You know what you are doing and why you are doing it. Once you have prepared for the Future, you can enjoy the Present with less anxiety.

Planning takes much of the guesswork out of what you need to do each day. You have a road map. It lets you focus on what you need to do in the Present to help bring about the Future you want.

No one can predict accurately or have a full control the Future. However, the more you Plan for what you want to see happen, the less anxious you are in the Present, and the more the Future is know to you. A lack of planning, both at work and in our lives, is the most common reason we fall short of our dreams and our goals.

3 best ways to think about the Future:
1. What would a wonderful future be like?
2. What are my plans to make it happen?
3. What am I doing today to make it happen?

The more you visualize your future, and believe it is possible to achieve, the easier it is for you to create your plan. And once you have a plan, you need to continually revise it as you gather more information and experience, so that the plan becomes more realistic. The next step is to do something every day to help make the wonderful future happen.

Living in the Present, learning from the Past, and planning for the Future. It is only when you Live with Purpose and respond to what's important about the Present, Past and Future, that it all has meaning.

Living with Purpose means not just knowing what to do, but why. Working and living with purpose is not some grand scheme or life plan. It is a practical approach for everyday life. It means rising each day and seeing what meaning it will hold for you and others as a result of your actions.

How you respond depends upon your Purpose (Value). When you want to be happy and more successful, it is time to be in the Present Moment. When you want the Present to be better than the Past, it is time to learn from the Past. When you want the Future to be better than the Present, it is time to plan for the Future.

When you live and work with Purpose, and respond to what is important NOW, you are more able to lead, manage, support, befriend and love.

Success is becoming who you are capable of being and progressing towards worthwhile goals. Each of us defines for ourselves what it means to be successful.

THREE WAYS TO USE YOUR PRESENT MOMENTS
Be in the Present
When you want to be happy and successful
Focus on what is right NOW
Use your Purpose to respond
to what is important NOW

Learn from the Past
when you want to make the present better than the Past
Look at what happened in the Past
Learn something valuable from it
Do things differently in the Present

Plan for the Future
when you want to make the Future better than the Present
See what a wonderful Future would look like
make Plans to help it happen
Put your plan into action in the Present.