How Planning Can Bring the Future Into the Present

We love to dream. And there is nothing wrong with a dream in fact they’re encouraged.

Dreams are what give us hope and allow us to leave the present for a preferred future.

I’m not talking about the day dreamer whose mind is just not in the present and nowhere close to the future.

I’m also not talking about a pipe dream. You know, winning the lottery. Becoming a professional athlete. Landing a position you can’t even really spell the title. Getting a date with a 9 when you’re a, well…

I’m talking about a real dream. Something that has been well thought-out and if it happened would be a game-changer in your life.

The problem comes is when we leave the dream into the future. It never makes its way into the present and therefore remains only a dream.

But what if we could borrow from the phrase “making dreams come true?” Cheesy but I wouldn’t mind adding THAT cheese to my dream sandwich.

I came across a quote by Alan Lakein that struck me due to its simplicity yet wisdom. You have to read it twice to get your money’s worth out of its meaning.

Let’s break that quote down…

Planning Is Bringing the Future Into the Present

What brings the future into the present? Planning. Who knew, huh?

And here we thought planning is a waste of time. Why not just start your day and actually get something done?

But what if we looked at planning differently? What if we viewed planning as a way to bring our future hopes and dreams into a reality?

Love me some here and now!

As my four year old son says when my wife tries to sneak some dark chocolate, “I want some!” This should be us with bringing the future into the present. I want some! Do you?

So That YOU Can Do Something

Who? You. Not someone else. You. We want things not only quickly, we want someone else to do it.

If that describes you, how’s THAT working out for you?

So that you can DO which means action. And do something. Anything. Action is required.

And that’s what a plan does for you. It lets you know what you should do.

What if we took time each day to do something to accomplish our dream?

This is the power of the book, The Miracle Morning, which challenges people to take time before your “real day begins” to take time for yourself to work on your dream.

And it’s exactly what I’ve been doing in my own life. And I absolutely love this time because everyday something happens to move my dream, my preferred future into the present.

I’ve been intentional about making changes in my day to bring my future forward. Has it been difficult? Absolutely. But SO worth it in the long run.

About It Now

I love the word now. It’s immediate. Instant gratification. Most things in my life tell me I have to wait. Hurry up and wait.

Not this quote.

It means there something I can do to make my future happen sooner by action on MY part and NOW.

Nobody can take this away from me.

I choose to get up early to work on my stuff. Now. I can move things forward. I can make my preferred future into the present.

I don’t have to wait on someone else. I can take the time to think through my own dream to actually make it happen.

It may change along the way but it’s my dream and it’s something I can work on now.

Are you with me?

Closing Challenge…

So what does this quote do for you? Does it give you hope that you can actually take a dream and make it a reality?

Does the quote challenge you to plan? You realize that you can take your future and bring it into the present by something you do?

Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now. – Alan Lakein

Motivated, busy professionals like to have control of their schedule. We also like to see forward motion.

What if we took this quote to heart then to action and actually began to plan to bring the future into the present?

I know it’s possible because I’m doing it every morning. And I love it.

I’m no longer only dreaming. It’s becoming real.

I’m also not relying on someone else. Or blaming someone else. It’s on me and right where I want it to be.

I challenge you to own this quote like I have and see what will happen. Bring it on.

Closing Quote…

What are you going to do today to bring your future into the present?