In today’s world, there’s a significant focus on mindfulness, or being fully aware of the present moment. It’s often touted as a key to happiness and a fulfilling life, forming the cornerstone of many wellness systems. But can one be too present? Is it truly possible to always be present? Moreover, isn’t being overly conscious of your thoughts and feelings at every moment something that can drain your energy, even if done with the best intentions?
Additionally, if you create a distance between yourself and your thoughts to observe them as a third person, could this interfere with intelligent thinking or the generation of new ideas? Intelligent thinking often requires immersion in your thoughts, sometimes without awareness.
It’s also worth noting that real happiness often comes from being naturally captivated by what’s in front of you or enjoying what you’re doing, rather than consciously trying to be present. For example, novel experiences can make us present very easily. Whenever we see something new for the first time, we automatically become very present without trying. Meaningful conversations can make us present without us knowing. Doing what we love can make us present. If we focus on creating a life where we are more frequently exposed to these things, we’ll naturally become more present.
On the other hand, the conscious effort of being present can make us too aware, diverting energy that could be used for work, creativity, and action instead toward constantly monitoring our thoughts and feelings. Is it worth giving so much importance to how we think or feel at any given time?
I wonder then if, instead of striving to be present or trying to minimize our thoughts, it’s worth focusing on cultivating quality thoughts and living a life where quality thoughts can take root. Every idea, action, and creation stems from thinking. Quality thoughts are those about things you can control, while harmful thoughts are those about things you cannot control.
Consider this: focus on things you can control and take action toward them. For example, living a disciplined life, improving your behavior towards others, and being productive are within your control. Conversely, you cannot control what others think of you. Even if you are well-behaved, some people may not like you, but your aim should be to behave well for your own integrity, not for others’ approval. Similarly, achieving success or getting a promotion isn’t entirely within your control, even if you are extremely productive.
It’s also worth noting that although being productive is in our control, feeling motivated to be productive may not entirely be in our control. The drive one needs to be productive may be absent sometimes, and that’s not in your control. But you cannot wait for motivation to come. You go ahead and do things anyway.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t set goals. Goals provide direction, and action without direction can be unproductive and unsatisfying. However, it’s important to recognize that despite your best efforts, things may not always work out as planned. Awareness of this reality is crucial. Your thoughts should focus on the actions you’ll take to achieve your goals, rather than worrying about the outcome or the consequences of not achieving them.
Thinking is key for the world to function. As long as your thoughts are productive, creative, kind, and focused on the next action you’ll take or how you can improve and grow, they are beneficial. Develop just enough awareness to recognize when you’re overthinking about things beyond your control. Beyond that, focus on creating a fulfilling life for yourself. Presence and mindfulness will follow naturally.
