In our 20s, we realise that things don't go as we plan them. There was so much that we had thought about our future in our past. At that present moment, we think about our dear future. And looking at those moments now, we feel how strange this process is. What is present, we can't think about it, what is future, we always think about it. And in this process, each day becomes our past, our present, and our future.

Tussle between the Past and the Present

Looking back at our past is not a bad thing. It is a joyful exercise because it flashbacks our beautiful moments of life. However, it might not be good if we cannot move from our past. Let's take the example of our good performance in the high schools and intermediate. Indeed we were students bright as the sun, creative, and fun. Then we moved out of our limited zone to a bigger competition zone, the graduation. And after graduation, some went for jobs and some for competitions, etc. And Graduations, for a major portion of the population, are the phase where toppers do fall down to average students and that is a fact. And that brings us to doubt ourselves sharply. And here comes the role of the past in the present.

Now when we look at ourselves, we often compare our present self with that of our high school and intermediate selves.

Looking at our pasts might help us to grow and encourage us to do it all over again. However, if we get stuck with the past, we cannot be in the present. Thinking about the past makes sense if we learn something from it. Be it happiness Or habits that help us to grow. But it'll be troublesome if we overshadow our present with only past achievements and happiness.

Present

We often get lost in the winds of the past. It forms an illusion which has nothing to do with the reality of the present. It just makes us feel better for a while and afterwards what? If this past is overshadowing our present, then it is not worth recalling in my opinion.

It is important to be in the present because that's all what we have got right now. The past memories won't be any good if we'll make our get present lost in thinking and sinking our future.

Present is like a gift that's why it is called as 'Present'.

"Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present." ~ Bil Keane.

And one must never let go off a gift which is all yours. Open it and live in the present.

Following are some helpful ways through which one could be in 'present' –

Meditation

Meditation in the simplest term is having our mind and body present at the same place. Wherever our body is, we must be mentally present too there. Trying meditation in the morning might help us to be conscious about our present. Meditation is not about doing it in the morning only with a posture. One can meditate with other things too, like by listening music with eyes closed and feeling it. Enjoying the moment.

Consciousness

Human body remains conscious even if we are sleeping. What affects us is the degree of consciousness. Overthinking reduces this degree of consciousness and we kind of zone out for a while. One way to stop overthinking is , as Sandeep Maheshwari in his video says, is to link the chains of thoughts which lead to overthinking one over another. So what we do is, go back to each chain of our thoughts and question one thing, does it matters now? Why I'm thinking about it? And it'll definitely end the never-ending chain of overthinking.

Everything is not in our hands

We have to accept this fact first to live in the present. That is, everything is not in our hands. We have to stop thinking, trying, resolving, and changing everything. This is not humanly possible. This would ultimately lessen our burden of overthinking. Go with the flow as they say. Not everything will go as planned, some things will but not everything. Instead what we can do is to be at present and plan at the moment.

Spend time with yourself

Nothing comes before you and your soul. Even we cannot think of anything first if we are not able to think of ourselves or look after ourselves. Give a moment to yourself for a while each and every day. Take a pause from the rush and breathe. Do nothing but be conscious and look around. Even closing your eyes and rest for a while will help. Do not overthink at this moment. Just live.

These are some ways one should try. And after all, one cannot master over this at once. It is a process which takes time. If the efforts are consistent, one can surely pass through this.

Thank you!

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