Many people believe that they will be happy once they arrive at some specific goal that they set for themselves. However, more often than not, once you arrive "there" you will still feel dissatisfied, and move your "there" vision to yet another point in the future. By continuously engaging in a cycle of longing, you never actually allow yourself to be in the present.

Spiritual teachers from the beginning of time have struggled with the question of how we can live in the present moment—a challenge that has become particularly difficult in the modern world in which we are constantly lured by visions of greater glory, beauty and fame.

It is important to recognize that being human means coming to terms with the age-old drive to look beyond the place where you now stand. On the one hand, your life is enhanced by your dreams and aspirations. They drive you forward and keep your passions alive, not to mention enable society to evolve. On the other hand, these drives can pull you farther and farther from your enjoyment of life right now. In formal education and your job, as well as in your private life, goal setting is a necessary skill. There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve your circumstances. Your challenge is to focus on the present, and on what we have right now, while simultaneously holding the intention of your future goals.

The secret is to dance on the fine line between living in the here and now while holding in your heart your fondest dreams and aspirations for the future. By learning the lessons of gratitude, unattachment, abundance, and peace, you can bring yourself closer to fulfilling the challenge of living in the present.