Living Today Like Tomorrow Doesn't Exist

Tomorrow is an Illusion

Every person on the planet is guilty of saying it. Those infamous words, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” The words aren’t always the same exact phrase, but the intent and lack thereof are still the same. The problem that we all fail to realize is that “tomorrow” is an illusion. In reality, tomorrow does not exist. At the stroke of midnight, tomorrow becomes today. It will never actually be tomorrow. Every moment you are in is a part of “today.” An entire life is made up of a series of moments that all happen in a series of todays.

When you claim that you will do something tomorrow, no matter if you claim to someone or to yourself, you are really saying that you are not going to do it. We use the expression of doing things tomorrow as a way of taking a small bit of credit for the desire to do it, but without the ownership or responsibility of actually taking action on it. So, really… “I’ll do it tomorrow” is an excuse, not a plan or a promise.

The Power of Today and Now

All of the things that we plan to do tomorrow or we say that we are going to do “someday” are forgotten dreams and broken promises. Deciding to do those things now and then actively making them happen, with no fear of failure, instantly grants an individual power. The power is that of taking control of yourself and of your life. You are owning your world and not just existing within it. The power that comes from saying, “I’m going to do that today” or “I’ll do that right now” is unmatched by most any other decision you can make in your life. Training yourself to think this way and to say it out loud will easily lead you into healthier and more take charge moments in your life as well. Deciding to do something today rather than a tomorrow that does not exist, grants you the authority of controlling your path and making choices that actively guide you through the various moments.

Facing tasks- no matter how big or small- in that moment serves to organize your life and your thoughts as well. Once the task is done or at least set into motion, the pride of taking action inspires you. The journey has started with a real and present knowledge of time and effort for completion. You avoid facing the end of the day or another year gone by and only then realizing that so many things are left undone or behind schedule for your life. This small change in thinking and behavior is like having a checklist that never ends, but is always full of things you’ve checked off.

Harsh Truth We All Know is Fact

Of course, we can’t discuss this subject without facing the harsh truth. As humans, we never know when our life may end. We can meet death in the blink of an eye. Even if survived, tragedy may disrupt our lives and have the pieces come crashing down. We like to feel safe when we lay down to go to bed at night, but the gruesome fact is… people die in their sleep too. At no point in our lives are we 100% guaranteed that we will not leave the earth or perhaps lose everything we think is important. Suddenly, all the things planned for tomorrow, are not even an option. As the title states, today may be the only tomorrow you may get. Yesterday you said you would do it tomorrow… well, “tomorrow” has now come and gone and you missed the chance.

The saddest part of this truth is that we all know that it is true. We know it every second of every day. Yet, we usually allow ourselves to still put everything off and keep our own dreams and best versions of ourselves, at a far distance, stuck in this mythical realm of time we call, “Tomorrow.”

Find Your Little Todays… Every Day

Of course, there are a lot of things that are so huge or perhaps not fitting to life’s every day happenings. We all know that too. In fact, it is often our go-to excuse for putting things off. However, most of the things we put off, are things that are very possible now. Try to find your little todays that you can grab a hold of. Start by actively doing some of the smaller things that you try to put off, today. From there you will begin to slowly move on to larger tasks and concepts. Eventually, you will arrive at a time when all of your “tomorrows” have now become “todays.”

Where to start? Well, the best place to start this new way of thinking and better way of living is with your family and friends. All of the things you want to say to those you love and the moments you want to share with each of them. Yes, those moments that you assume they know or the moments you are going to have with them “one day” … make them happen now. Tell them how much they mean to you and create the memories with them that you want to have. If that moment or memory involves needing money that you don’t have, then create a small version of that experience or gift. The big moments will come but the meaning and the importance of those moments will be shared and felt. It may be the only time you have to create those emotions and to say those words. Remember… tomorrow doesn’t exist. Welcome to today. Make it your favorite today.