Using the Eras of Time to your advantage

Life is multidimensional and rather phenomenal. Look at the Eras of Time for example – the Past, the Present and the Future. Some separate the trio into two categories, time (past, future) and present, but for this purpose we will consider all three in their own right.

The PAST – We cannot truly adjust what has occurred in the past though we can choose to take away a beneficial or positive perspective. The past served to set the course for the present, where we are now. If we dwell in the past we relive our long gone experiences and risk missing out on present moments and opportunities that are important in shaping our future.

The FUTURE is to come, it is not certain, and even though we can plan and increase the probabilities of a desired outcome, it is still unknow and unsure. We do not have control over all the variables so we cannot know for sure what will actually materialise. Dwelling in the future will also distract us from the present and cause us to be helpless and ineffective when it really matters. The future holds our visions and goals, the things we strive for and hope to achieve, so it provides our pull, our motivation and our reward. The future should only guide and provide direction to what we do in the present.

Now we go to the remarkable gift of the PRESENT, the only zone we can bring an action or intent into effect. What you do in the present will shape your future and change the trajectory of your past, so your NOW is the most important time era of your life.

To re-chart our course and shift the direction of our life, NOW is the only time we have to do it. The future is not guaranteed and we sure can’t go back in time, so we have to balance our strategies to make the most of the present and plan for a better future. All eras can be beneficial to us if we understand their limitations and relevance.

The past holds our experiences, and these experiences offer us an opportunity to learn by confirming or refuting our assumptions, beliefs, approaches and strategies. Be it good or bad in our eyes, the past provides two critical resources.

1. A reference and reminder of possibilities – In the past we experienced growth, overcame hurdles and learnt lessons. We went through situations which at the time, we thought we were not going to survive or move beyond. The past provides a record of manifestations, results, outcomes and our testimonies. When we remember our successes of the past, we can find strength to move forward in faith and take measured risks in the present.
2. Valuable Feedback to apply going forward – We can learn lessons from our experiences, experiments and explorations in the past. Wisdom dictates that we avoid a repeat and make adjustment to strategies that did not yield the desired outcome. The past provides tremendous lessons to take into the present and the future. Even if an outcome was not the desired result, we walk away with valuable feedback to apply in the present and successfully ‘fail’ forward.

Important note: We cannot change the past, and we really don’t need to. From the past we only take what is useful for going forward and getting us in the direction of our dreams and goals. We have to be intentional about not taking baggage or distractions into our present reality and also about not projecting our unhealthy perceptions into our future predictions. Only take that which is useful and beneficial and leave the rest in the past.

Our visions, dreams and goals reside in our future. The future should motivate and provide direction for the choices and plans we make today. The future should set the course of direction of our present so that when the present moves to the past and a future moment shifts into the present, we would not have digressed from our goals or be disappointed with our level of progress or placement.

We associate the future with uncertainty, so our apprehension tends to lead to one of two opposing responses. We either approach the future in faith or with fear. Faith means you trust or strongly believe in something, and it also means something you hope for. Fear is the opposite of faith and is usually associated with a perceived threat of danger, pain, or harm. Both faith and fear are driven by the unknown, the unfamiliar and the unseen, but one evokes positive energy and motivation while the other produces a pattern of negativity and diversion, if not managed. Fear is natural and is purposed to be and instructive platform. Fear tells you what you need to give more attention to and sure up. But, when fear takes you over, and instead uses you as a platform, it leads to unhealthy expressions and unproductive reactions.

Remember, the only time we can execute a decision or action, or lock in an opportunity, is in the present. The present is really a gift because with it comes options to adjust, to stay the course, to act, to not respond, or to implement changes. Essentially, what you decide to do now is your investment in tomorrow.

Use fear to your advantage, be intentional and invest today for a better tomorrow.