What Does the Saying “There’s No Time Like the Present” Truly Mean?
“There’s no time like the present” is a genuine, empowering understanding of the reality of time.
Proverb, adage, whatever you call it – you’ve likely heard or read the phrase “there’s no time like the present” at some point. It may seem trite – but it’s quite powerful.
Because of the complexities of human thought, we can get lost in ruminations of the past and plotting notions for the future. In truth, we can get so caught up in past or future thinking that we don’t bother to be in the now at all.
That might seem ludicrous, but think about – how many times have you found yourself mulling over something you did or experienced in the past? Have you ever staid your hand from taking an action because of fears of repeating a bad past experience?
Now turn that the other way – how many times have you gotten so focused on future outcomes that you had to fight anxiety over them? Have you ever hesitated or been indecisive because you were focused on consequences that might or might not occur?
Have you ever experienced depression because of past matters and anxiety over potential futures? I think Lau Tzu best explains that with,
“If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.”
This quote, I believe, really expresses why the present is so important.
But what does this have to do with the phrase “there’s no time like the present”?
The present is the only time in our control
There are two important truths that can be a bitter pill to swallow for some people.
- The past has passed. You cannot undo, redo, alter, or change the past. Period. It has come and gone – and that’s that.
- The future is unwritten. The future is ahead of you and will be impacted by the unexpected. No matter what you intend – the future isn’t a done deal and the uncertain can and will occur.
There is no getting around this. Time machines don’t exist to let you go back and redo/undo or otherwise alter the past (and, frankly, I think if they did exist, changing the past would create a whole alternative timeline – but I digress). Conversely – you can’t jump ahead with absolute certainty to the future because it’s unwritten. And what you think you desire from it is also changeable.
As Yoda said,
“Always in motion is the future.”
The future is not in our control because lots of factors will impact it. I was working a good part-time job with some very cool plans for the future that I was thrilled to be part of. Then COVID hit. Within a couple of months, the company was sold, and the job and future plans were gone.
I can’t change that. Nor can I change how the sale of that business went utterly sideways (which is not my story to tell). But as you can see – the past and the future are uncontrollable.
The present – the now – that’s in our control. However – that control is both very limited and full of potential and possibilities.
What do I control?
Myself. All I can control is that which is directly in my head, heart, and soul.
You are in the same situation. All that you can control is your head, heart, and soul.
As such, you are capable of controlling your thoughts, feelings, actions, and intentions. This can be done by mindfulness – conscious awareness – in the present. Right here, right now.
You cannot control anyone or anything else. I can’t make people buy my books, nor can I make anyone who does buy them review them on Amazon and Goodreads. All I can do is write and publish my books.
Beyond people, there are numerous factors we have zero control over. We can’t do anything about the weather, other drivers on the road, the stock market, or elected officials from states or countries we don’t live in.
While it might seem like there are far more things we can’t and don’t control than we can – what we can and do control is incredibly powerful. If we use it to our advantage.
I can choose anything and everything related directly to who, what, where, how, and why I am. Ultimately I decide what my life is going to look like.
It’s important to recognize that there are often complications in this. Obligations, necessities, and circumstances will make some choices and decisions harder than others. Factors very outside of our control – such as what nation we live in and degrees of recognized or unrecognized privilege – will impact ease or complexity.
This phrase is all about control
Even factoring all this in – “there is no time like the present” comes to mean that now, the present, this moment, is the only time that truly is. It’s the only time that we can take any control over our lives.
The past has come and gone. The future is unwritten. Right here and now, this moment, the present, is real. Here and now is when you can choose and decide who, what, where, how, and why you are.
The past can and will provide lessons that will inform present actions and intentions. The future can and will offer goals and directions to inform present actions and intentions. But you cannot act in the past nor for the future.
That is why, ultimately, there is “no time like the present.” It’s literal. The present is the only time that is wholly real – for you and me.
Most people desire at least some semblance of control over their life experience. To gain any control whatsoever, we need to accept two absolute truths.
- We only have control over ourselves
- The present is the only time we can make any choices and decisions
To best work within the framework of these truths, we need to apply mindfulness.
Mindfulness – conscious awareness of our inner being – is all about the present. It’s how – here and now – we know what we are thinking, what and how we are feeling, actions we are taking, and the intentions behind them.
Finally – though it might seem like we’re super limited – we’re not. When you work with mindfulness and recognize the literal meaning of “there is no time like the present” – you gain clarity and empower yourself to choose more elements of your life experience.
Choosing to recognize the meaning of “there’s no time like the present” isn’t hard
It’s all about working with mindfulness of your thoughts, feelings, actions, and intentions.
When we stop chewing on the past or worrying about the future – and focus on the present – we gain true control of ourselves. That opens potential and possibilities to decide who, what, where, why, and how we desire to live.
When we choose to recognize that “no time like the present” gives us many options, we can use it to gain control of how we direct our life experiences. That empowers me – and it can empower you, too. And we can use this to choose things leaning towards the positive end of life’s extremes.
Taking an approach to positivity and negativity – from the vast space that exists between them – I believe shifts the concept in a way to open more dialogue. In that form, we can explore and share where we are between those extremes and how that might impact us in the here and now.
Finally, I believe the better aware we are of ourselves in the now, the more we can do to choose and decide how our life experience will be. If that empowers us, it might open those around us to their own empowerment. And that is, to me, a worthwhile endeavor to explore and share.
Thank you for coming along on this ride with me.
This is the four hundred and twenty-first entry of my Positivity series. It is my hope these weekly messages might help spread positive energies for everyone. Feel free to share, re-blog, and spread the positivity.
Please visit here to explore all my published works – both fiction and non-fiction.
Please take a moment to sign up for my newsletter. Fill in the info and click the submit button to the right and receive a free eBook.
Follow me here!
