Ahhh, four letter words!! What a gift to the spoken & written word. Sometimes there’s just no substitute for a four letter word . . . no substitute for expression perfectionized 
! I’m sure your mind can instantly replay a moment that could be the commercial for why four letter words exist. This 16 part series takes a look at 16 four letter words that will change your life. So let’s dive right in . . . Word #4 »
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Word #4: Time
Timing is everything.
Time flies when you’re having fun. (So True!)
There’s no time like the present. (Personal Favorite)
It’s been a while since I’ve written . . . isn’t it ironic that the topic is time? I think time is one of the most fascinating and simultaneously, simple concepts ever. We often spend our moments remembering the past, being in the present and imagining the future. But whether we’re remembering, being or imagining, we really only have one point of access to the magic of time. That point of access is now.
So the reality is that there’s no time OTHER THAN the present. Now is the only moment in time we ever have. When we remember previous nows, experience current nows or imagine future nows, all of that mental aerobics takes place now. Your life is merely a finite string of nows.
Being present is our way . . .
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. And today? Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present."
- B. Olatunji
Over the next few moments, hours and days, take a look at your thoughts & words and try to determine when your mind is. As you become more aware of the thoughts you’re having, see if they fit into any of these three categories and decide if you want to change any of them:
1. Old Movies
Have you ever wished you could’ve or thought you should’ve or even wondered if you would’ve? I surely have, too many times to count . . .we all have. The worst part for me is the dwelling on what might have been.
Whenever I’ve used an ould’ve, I was wishing I had the ability to somehow change what had already happened . . . to somehow live that moment differently. We both know that’s not possible, but knowing that doesn’t seem to discourage that line of thinking!
Make no mistake, I’m not talking about reminiscing or fondly remembering . . . it’s those moments when you’re back in time reliving the past and actually imagineering the plot differently.
Maybe you see yourself having the courage to say something you didn’t say or not do something you actually did. Either way, it’s a fiction who’s author is regret. Let it go. It’s literally not worth your time.
2. Coming Attractions
I’m not here to discourage the visionary in each of us, but some future thinking can be kinda limiting. If your thoughts and words often include phrases like “I’ll never”, “I won’t”, “If I ever”, you’re likely spending your nows thinking about the future you want to avoid.
As an alternative, you could choose to think about something you’d like to create in the future. This shift will prompt your mind to figure out what it can think and do now to lead you to where you want to go.
3. Now Playing
Physically we’re always in the now. Our mind joins the party when our thoughts and words resemble “I am”, “I can” and “today”. These affirmative phrases are powerful and send a signal to ourselves and the universe that we’re ready to get back on the dance floor.
When people reach the end of their life, they don’t have regrets about not working enough hours each day or not purchasing enough things. They regret not spending more time with loved ones. They regret not seeing every moment as the magical gift that it was. They remember those seemingly ordinary moments . . . the laughter, the love.
When you remember, choose to see truth in all that has happened and be nurtured by those memories that affirm you. When you imagine, view your future with a smile as if you had a lasso around it and were pulling it closer to you each moment. As you live in the now, know that each moment visits only briefly and our job is not to discard it . . . it is our privilege to experience it. Stay present my friend!
"Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored."
- Earl Nightingale
Radio Announcer, Author and Speaker
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