“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...”

― Henry David Thoreau

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To live deliberately is to make every ounce of the present matter. The present is all we have. The past cannot be changed, and we could be gone in a minute. So the key to living deliberately is being deliberate in your present. But it’s not easy. It takes constant focus and energy to concentrate on what you are doing right now and making it count. It’s easy to lapse into a comforting past memory or dream about what might happen in the future. 

Do you have an image of your future-self you want to be? What would your future-self tell you right now? Would future-self be happy with what you are doing? What advice would future-self give you to reach your dreams? We all know what to do. It’s a matter of doing the work. It’s not easy to eat right, get an education, or workout. On a cold morning, it’s easy to watch reruns of Rosanne in your warm bed. But we know future-self wouldn’t be pleased. 

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Listen to your future-self voice and follow its advice. This is the path to living deliberately. Don’t let an opportunity pass you by that would have taken you one step closer to future-self, and therefore, closer to your dreams. Be present in every moment.

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