We can often become anxious in anticipation of the future or sad about the past. It can be helpful when we are able to live in the present.
If this sounds like you, the following activity may be useful. If you would like to try it out, write “future” on a piece of paper. Under “future” write “present” and under “present” write “past.”
When you feel caught up in thoughts or emotions, slide/move your finger up or down the page to determine where you are. Are you in the past, present, or future?
After a few times you can move the written out page to a visual in your mind. This can be a useful strategy as you move about your day in order to determine your current mindset. If you find you are in the future or past, you can then ask yourself what you may be able to do to move back to the present. This is an intentionally lived and mindful life, a life within the present.
Jen Hyatt, LMFT (California) and IMFT (Ohio), is a licensed psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, author, and founder of Storm Haven Counseling and Wellness, an integrative group psychotherapy practice based in Temecula, California, offering in-person and online mental health services. With over a decade of clinical experience, Jen specializes in neurodivergent-affirming and LGBTQIA+ affirming care, trauma, identity exploration, relationships, and holistic mental wellness.
Her therapeutic philosophy integrates evidence-based psychotherapy with Jungian and depth psychology, somatic awareness, mindfulness, and complementary wellness practices. Jen is also the creator of The Nerdie Therapist, a platform exploring psychology, psychotherapy, neuroscience, storytelling, mythology, and pop culture, and the author of The Understory: Going Beneath the Surface, which explores the deeper roots of therapeutic work, human experience, and meaningful change.
Through her clinical practice, writing, education, and creative endeavors, Jen advocates for compassionate, inclusive, and accessible mental healthcare that honors the complexity of being human.
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