Focus On Now, Not Later

Pay attention to what you are doing right now. There is a particular satisfaction in wrapping up the thing in front of you, so let yourself feel it when the task is done.

We tend to hang the big reward on some distant milestone. The degree. The baby. The house with your name on the deed. Being known by strangers. And when that day finally arrives, we tell ourselves, at last, I pulled off the thing I spent my whole life chasing.

But that habit quietly cancels out everything in between. Where did today go while you were busy aiming at tomorrow?

Taste the meal. Look out the window and actually see what is there. Let yourself sit still for a minute without reaching for the next thing.

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