The future is awesome but it can be easy for some minds to drift too far into it almost like a meddling time traveller! It can affect our present by sabotaging our current actions so that we don't get to the future we've thought about. It's like having a nice clear path that will take you to where you need but as soon as you put one foot forward a chunk has fallen out stranding you.

(If you are unsure about what the heck is sabotage and saboteur go check out this)

Obviously the long term goals are nothing without the short term ones & their steps being actually taken. For some people overthinking into the future becomes too overwhelming and then depending on whats going on in the body & what values your sabotage is linked to; it can manifest things like emotional eating, sleep disturbances, procrastination.

An example is this: Complacency from lived experience.
Having 'easily' lost weight or improved fitness in the past its easy to dismiss barriers a classic "eh tomorrow, or I'll start after the holidays" this procrastination is fueled by our saboteur which uses it to keep us safe from avoiding things like anxiety, stress etc (though it ends up causing more!) there may be an underlying fear of actually achieving goals. OR another complacency angle is when we view something as ' too easy' we don't think it will work- self-fulfilling prophecy am I right? OH and the double whammy of a saboteur WANTING you to fail for all sorts of reasons you have to work out.

Another example is: Being overwhelmed in the present.
When overwhelmed we easily lose track of things & our decision making will use the quickest paths you have which may not be the best paths. So can end up with that vibe of "I don't know what the heck is going on?!" "what have I been doing?"- think 'Marvels multiverse' of sometime madness :D. By not paying attention your actual short term goals and steps are compromised; which the saboteur thinks "job well done" as you've avoided some rando anxiety or whatever it thinks its protecting you from.

OK what can we do?

• Grounding exercises!
• Take stock of what you have been doing right! and do so in a way you use well (visual, audio, etc)
• Sure take a look at the long term goal but then prioritise the short term goals/steps needed to get there, get as micro as you want (if that’s helpful to you).
• Do whatever it is you need to get present (meditation, exercise, self care, lists, pep talk,)
• Look at what supports you have in place that may offer help, that could be anyone from a therapist to an advisor in a specific area (physio, medical, fitness, financial, education etc)

If you find yourself consistently having trouble with being overwhelmed, mind travelling to the past or future and feel stuck or its having too much of a negative impact on daily life consider contacting a therapist that specialises in ACT. (Acceptance commitment therapy)

If you have a support team talk to any of them about things and they may be able to direct you to someone else or say for example a health pro or health coach may be able to run you through some grounding exercises.

So again I'll leave you with my classic fave whakatauki

"E huri tō aroaro ki te rā, Tukuna tō ataarangi ki mura i a koe" (turn and face the sun and let your shadow fall behind you)

-Saz