The first is “yesterday”.
Looking back and constantly longing for something we no longer have any control over:
- “I used to have my act together”,
- “I used to be in great shape”,
- “I used to be happy”.
The second is “tomorrow”.
This one means telling yourself every day that you’ll start tomorrow:
- “from tomorrow I’ll look after myself”,
- “from tomorrow I’m taking up running”,
- “I’ll train tomorrow”,
- “tomorrow I’m starting to change”.
These illnesses can stay with us for most of our lives…
deceiving us and making us unhappy. We will live in the past or in the future, never in the present. We will dwell on what has happened without learning anything for the future. Or we may keep putting things off while feeling frustrated that nothing good is happening in our lives.
So it is worth stopping to notice our present. The here and now, this very moment I am living in. To see its value, its beauty and what a unique person each of us is, with our own strengths and areas for development.
Let’s be grateful for what life gives us and appreciate ourselves for the effort we put into every single day.
Let’s be kind to ourselves.
Frequently asked questions
Which two “illnesses” does the author mean?
“Yesterday” – constantly looking back and longing for what we no longer have any control over – and “tomorrow”, which means telling yourself every day that you’ll start tomorrow.
Where do they lead?
To a life outside the present: dwelling on the past without learning from it, or constantly putting things off and feeling frustrated that nothing good is happening.
What should you do instead?
Stop and notice the present – see its value, appreciate yourself for the effort you put into every day, and be kind to yourself.
