Why can't we just live in the present? Why do we have to keep recalling the past and planning for the future?

Answer 1

To live from the premise of the ego is to compare, or see a perceived difference, or to identify.
All of these aspects of life make one visit the past or future. One is at the mercy of the egoic stance.

To live in the present moment is to live in the heart of all.

You make the choice every moment where you dwell.

Answer 2

Most of us live in the present, but then, some people, are always regretting the "what ifs". Now, it is a well known fact that those who forget the past are condemned to relieve it, And planing for the future doesn't mean that whatever you plan, has to be, it just means that you have some idea of what you want, but one always has to be open for changes, The so called planning is not really planning, it is called preparing, and you do that by studying, reading, learning, and living. So, open your eyes, and get ready, for the future is here, even as we speak the present is gone, by the time you read this, it will be the past, for me it is the future, do I really worry or care? No, For the place is Here and the time is Now. And whatever I did yesterday is helping me today, and will make me better tomorrow.

Answer 3

Because the present doesn't exist ... or too short to say it exists... but actually, it depends on how you define the present. within 2 years ? 2 months ? 4 hours ?

People don't live in the present because we anticipate... we have this future sight that tell us that if we don't plan, we'll be lost at any moment and people hate being lost. They always wanna know where they are going, 'cause that's what tell them that they are strong, that they control.
But actually, we are not the only beings that anticipate, plan for the future : what about ants or some other insects? Don't they pick lots of food before winter ? We are just doing the same thing. The only difference is "we are living to obtain a successful life, they are living to survive"

Answer 4

The truth is, we only can live in the present. Emotions experienced when thinking about the Past or Future are only experienced in the Present. You say we Have to keep recalling the past and/or planning the future but that is only an illusion. The key to happiness and peace is "present moment awareness".

Answer 5

If you spend too much time remembering, or planning, or observing - we say "You're living in the past" or "You've got your head in the clouds", but what we mean is: "You aren't using your experience & intellect to take meaningful action."

See, there are ONLY four things you actually do.
You can observe, remember, plan and act.
All these things must be done in the present,
because for us, no other time exists.

BUT action alone is meaningless; it's a dead planet endlessly orbiting a dead star.

The planet is ACTS in the present, but it's not LIFE because the action is not coupled with observation, memory or thought.

We must recall and plan because that, along with observation and action IS living.

Just like your computer. Input (observe), Memory (remember), Processing (plan), and Output (action)

You can ask "Why can't my computer just take action?" The answer would be: "That's not computing."

We can't just live in the present, because that not life.

Answer 6

1. The point of this life is to be tested, to gain a mortal body and have mortal experiences. 2. He didn't "plan" anything, he doesn't make our choices for us. He knew that in giving us our agency he would lose some of his children to unrighteousness, but he also knew there was no other way for us, his children, to become like him. This life is one of the steps necessary for exaltation. He still wanted us to gain a body and have these experiences. 3. Coffee, Tea, Alcohol and Tobacco are the main things in the Word of Wisdom. Because we also believe in modern revelation, we listen to the prophet's and try to heed their counsel. Anything addictive is discouraged. Anything used NOT in moderation is discouraged. My husband has a coke or two every day. I rarely ever drink caffeine, mostly because i don't like the taste. If the prophet does ever say 'caffeine' is against the word of wisdom, then we will make the necessary change, until then I guess as long as we aren't addicted to it, we are OK. 4. Well, he did create the earth and everythin in/on it. MAN is the one who decided that pot be used the way it is, not God. We have our own choices...maybe it's a test! As a reminder, all things are welcome to be asked of the Lord, if I don't understand something or want to know "why" something is a certain way, I ask. If it is his will that I know that answer, I will receive an answer.

Answer 7

Nobody can live in the present, as it is the mind's play. The whole process of meditation is to be always in the present.

The mind again is a magnetic wave which has certain frequencies.

Normally everybody's mind functions in the beta level which is above 8 cycles per sec. If we are very calm the mind comes a little below 8. But very soon it goes above 8.

To keep the mind below 8 [alpha level] is why we do meditation.

Slowly in meditation it goes to deeta & delta levels too, but once we come out of meditation, we are back to the same square.

Long years of practice will help to keep the mind in the present to some extend.If we can be in the flow then we can be in the present always, i.e not questioning a lot, "why this is happening only to me?, brooding over the past etc.

Answer 8

i agree with the first answerer. :)

past and future are also parts of time, so even if you are living in the present, they cannot be avoided. learning from the past makes you a better person and planning a future helps you get over the past!
don't you think it would be better if we all learn from the past and live in the present planning for a better future? ;-)

:)

Answer 9

I would suggest that it is due to our society's need to see some from of punishment handed down, some form of 'justice' done. Before this need to see punishment, people would content themselves with the fact the past was just that, and that they would never have to deal with the person or group again. However as forensics increased and people began to see that there were less things that people could get away with we have grown more and more impatient to see punishment handed down, to see people 'locked up' for their crimes. With this each generation instils this value of seeking punishment for wrongs committed into the next until we sit here wondering why we can't just live in the here and now. Not very gracefully put but that is how I see it.

Hope this helps.

Answer 10

Very ancient or primitive peoples had no idea of the concept of future. It was only very vaguely that they thought about immediate past as their frame of reference, though it's doubtful they refer to past time as past as we know it. Today, we have the advantage of thinking fore and aft, which is as clear as day light. We treat the past as a vast library from which, as evolved humans, we know how to chart the future and foresee what will happen. We cannot afford to live only in the present. We look back for past lessons. We can now also think ahead in terms of time.