It’s so easy to focus on the future. Of the things to come. Of your dreams and visions.
Doing this is what leaders are supposed to do, right?
Right… and wrong…
Forward-thinking leadership is great. You’re able to plot out a course of action. You’re able to put the pieces into the right places to get things done. You’re able to accomplish more than you thought.
Or are you?
If all we do is concentrate on the future, we miss out on today. Here are 3 reasons to focus on today and not tomorrow.
3 Reasons To Focus On Today And Not Tomorrow
1. You will struggle to accomplish anything:
Have you been around someone who talks about all that they’re going to do? These people tend to be big dreamers. That’s awesome. However, it’s also a problem.
You may notice that these big dreamers only talk about what they’re going to do. They fail to implement and take action on what’s been thought about.
Dreaming about tomorrow is okay. But you have to focus and act on today.
Without action today, you won’t be able to fulfill the dreams of tomorrow.
2. You can miss out on what’s in front of you:
I’ve seen so many leaders blinded by their blessed pursuit of tomorrow. They’re working for the big vacation, that wedding that will change everything, or maybe even death.
They’re laser-focused on what tomorrow will bring. So much so they miss out on what’s in front of them.
Think about it, you’ve probably been there… You find yourself with tunnel vision for the weekend. You have grand plans to go fly fishing, take your grandson out on the boat, and enjoy the weekend.
But what happens the rest of the week? What do you miss?
Because you’re so focused on the next big thing, you miss out on the great moments in front of you. You may find yourself missing:
- The gentle touch of your spouse
- An important interaction with an employee
- A beautiful sunset over the lake
We have to take time for today. We can’t always look for tomorrow. When we do, we miss the special moments of the day.
3. You can’t count on tomorrow:
We all plan for the future. We believe it is coming. However, tomorrow is never promised.
We are told this over and over again in the Bible.
Matthew 6:33-34 tells us: But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
James 4:13-17 states: Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
And Proverbs 27:1 tells us: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. We don’t know whether tomorrow will come. That doesn’t mean we don’t plan and look forward to tomorrow. Rather, we need to learn to live in today so we won’t be disappointed if tomorrow doesn’t come.
Do you struggle to focus on today instead of the future? I hope these reasons help you to move your focus from the future to today.
