Learn to Live in the Present Moment
學會活在當下
To a large degree,
很大程度上，
the measure of our peace of mind is determined by how much we are able to live in the present moment.
我們內心的平和取決於我們是否活在當下。
Irrespective of what happened yesterday or last year,
不論昨天或去年發生什麼，
and what may or may not happen tomorrow,
不管明天會不會發生什麼。
the present moment is where you are-always.
當下才是你所在的地方，而且向來如此！
Without question, many of us have mastered the neurotic art of spending much of our lives worrying about a variety of things-all at once.
毫無疑問，我們之中許多人都十分精通神經質藝術，浪費生命去憂慮各種事情。
We allow past problems and future concerns to dominate our present moments,
我們讓過去的問題和未來的憂慮主宰目前的時光。
so much so that we end up anxious, frustrated,depressed, and hopeless.
結果我們變得焦慮不安，感到受挫，沮喪、了無希望。
On the flip side, we also postpone our gratification,
另一方面，我們延遲自己的滿足感，
our stated priorities, and our happiness,
推遲我們應優先考慮的事情以及自己的幸福，
often convincing ourselves that someday will be better than today.
去說服自己總有一天會比今天更好。
Unfortunately, the same mental dynamics that tell us to look toward the future will only repeat themselves so that someday never actually arrives.
不幸的是，我們期待未來的心理機制只會一再重複，結果總有一天從未真正到來。
John Lennon once said, Life is what's happening while we're busy making other plans.
約翰·列儂曾經說過：生命就是我們忙著做其他計劃的時候，所發生的一切。
When we're busy making other plans,
當我們忙著做其他計劃時，
our children are busy growing up,
我們的孩子也忙著長大，
the people we love are moving away and dying,
我們所愛的人在逐漸遠離、死去，
our bodies are getting out of shape,
我們的體型不知不覺地變樣，
and our dreams are slipping away.
我們的夢想也偷偷溜走。
In short, we miss out on life.
換句話說，我們錯過了人生。
Many people live as if life were a dress rehearsal for some later date.
許多人把生命當做對以後某個日期的彩排生活。
It isn't.
人生不是這樣的。
In fact, no one has a guarantee that he or she will be here tomorrow.
其實，沒有人可以保證，明天他或她還會在這裡。
Now is the only time we have,
現在是我們擁有的惟一時刻，
and the only time that we have any control over.
也是我們能控制的惟一時光。
When our attention is in the present moment,
當我們把注意力放在當下時，
we push fear from our minds.
就能把恐懼從心底排出。
Fear is the concern over events that might happen in the future-we won' t have enough money,
恐懼是憂慮未來可能發生的種種情況。例如，我們不會有足夠的金錢，
our children will get into trouble,
我們的孩子會惹麻煩，
we will get old and die, whatever.
我們會老會死等等。
To combat fear, the best strategy is to learn to bring your attention back to the present.
對抗恐懼的最佳策略就是，學會將你的注意力拉回到現在。
Mark Twain said,I have been through some terrible things in my life,some of which actually happened.
馬克·吐溫就曾說過：我這一生經歷過許多糟糕的事情，只有一些真的發生了。
I don't think I can say it any better.
我想，我無法說得更好了。
Practice keeping your attention on the here and now.
經常將注意力放在此時此刻，
Your efforts will pay great dividends.
你的努力將會得到豐厚的報償！