Life is divided into three periods — that which has been, that which is, that which will be. Of these the present time is short, the future is doubtful, the past is certain.
Seneca, “On the Shortness of Life,” X
The Stoics deeply considered the nature of time in their philosophy. As I had discussed in a previous article, they viewed that life is not short if lived right — we just shorten it by wasting time. In this shortening of our lives, they observed that we often focus on the wrong aspects of time. By doing so, we not only squander the moment at hand but also invite unnecessary negative emotions into our lives.
Time consists of three parts: the past, the present and the future. Two of these — the past and the future — are beyond our control, while only the present is within our grasp. The Stoics recognized that one of the most irrational tendencies of humans is to become fixated on the parts of time we cannot influence. We spend our lives dwelling on the past and the mistakes that we might have made, or we fixate ourselves on the future and the possibilities (good or bad) that it can contain.
We often dwell on the past, replaying what we could have said or done differently, wishing we had made better choices. This constant regret invites feelings of sadness and even depression, as we burden ourselves with past mistakes. Yet, these negative emotions are ultimately a choice — one we don’t have to make. We are not bound to live in the past; we can choose to focus on the present instead.
The Stoics wouldn’t tell you to completely forget your past. They understood that our past holds valuable wisdom, shaped by both good and bad choices. Even when reflecting on our lives in addiction, we can find a wealth of insight — lessons on what to avoid and what not to repeat. This is why the 12 Steps include making a personal inventory, examining our past through the lens of addiction. By completing this step, we not only gain knowledge but also begin to make peace with our past, having extracted from it the most important gift: wisdom. But once we have gained this, we need to learn to put the past to rest.
The Stoics also recognized that we often become trapped in thoughts of the future. Our minds grow anxious, burdened by worries about what might happen. They saw this as irrational since the future is both out of our control and uncertain. Why torment ourselves in the present over something that may never come to pass? And if it does happen, why suffer twice — once in anticipation and again when it occurs? The future is unknown and beyond our control, leaving no reason to dwell on it.
It is crucial to move beyond the parts of time that are out of our control because the one part we do control — the present — is fleeting. The present moment slips away with each passing second, becoming the past. The more we focus on the past or the future, the more we allow the only moment we have any influence over to slip through our fingers, lost to time.
Cicero’s Archer
Cicero, a philosopher in Ancient Rome, was not a Stoic, but Stoic philosophy influenced his thinking. In his own work, he used the example of an archer to illustrate the three different parts of time. He recognized that whenever we pursue a goal (the target the archer is aiming at in his example), each aspect of time plays a role. To strive toward our goals with a healthy mindset, we must learn to use each part of time wisely and effectively.
Past
When facing any challenge or goal, your past holds the wisdom and skills you carry forward.
In the example of the archer, the past represents everything they bring to the moment of aiming at the target — all the practice and preparation they’ve done. Whether they’ve trained for hours or not at all, it no longer matters because, in the present, they can’t go back and change how much practice they’ve put in. That practice holds the wisdom they need for the present moment. Ideally, they’ve learned how to shoot an arrow and aim under different conditions and gained experience with various targets — especially the ones they face right now.
The past provides the archer with the wisdom for aiming and shooting and the tools they bring to the present moment. How many arrows do they have? What kind of bow? Is it properly strung? Everything the archer needs for a successful shot must have been prepared and brought from the past to the present; otherwise, they won’t even have the right equipment to aim and shoot.
Using the example of an archer, we can relate it to a challenge or goal we might face — in this case, looking for a job. Your past encompasses everything you bring to this pursuit, including the knowledge gained from education and previous work experience. It includes the resume you’ve crafted, the cover letter you’ve written, and the references you’ve gathered. Any skills acquired from past job searches, such as networking and interview techniques, are also valuable tools in this process. While some strengths from your past can be applied to any job you pursue, others may be more career-specific, depending on the circumstances.
For any goal or challenge you face, you have a past that you bring to it. It might contain wisdom about the right things to do as well as the things to avoid. Your past has also equipped you with various tools for survival that you can bring to any challenge you encounter. You only have to take that moment to learn from your past to see what it has equipped you with for your present.
Present
When facing any challenge or goal in life, the present is the only moment in which you have control — the only time you can take action toward that challenge or goal.
In the example of the archer, now equipped with the wisdom of the past and the tools they’ve brought to the present moment, it’s time to aim. Is it windy? Is the target moving? How far away is it? The archer considers all aspects of the goal at this moment, using their understanding of the current situation alongside their past knowledge to aim as effectively as possible.
At this moment, they can only aim at the target and release the arrow.
In pursuing a new job or career, what you can do in the present depends on where you are in the process. Perhaps today, all you can manage is creating a resume or cover letter. Maybe you’re ready to apply for jobs, or you’ve heard back from an employer, and today is your interview day. If you’re changing careers, finding a suitable school might be the only step you can take for now. The key is to identify something you can do in the present to move closer to your goal. Instead of focusing on the myriad steps needed to achieve your objective or overcome your challenge, concentrate on the one actionable task you can tackle now.
We often become so focused on the goal we are aiming for (the future) that we overlook what we can do in the present moment. Every goal in life is achieved through small steps taken in the present. With each moment, we accomplish one task and then another, each action bringing us closer to the goal we wish to achieve.
We need to recognize that the only action we can take toward any goal or challenge in life is the one we can perform right now in the present.
Future
When facing any challenge or goal in life, the uncontrollable future is filled with countless possibilities.
In the example of the archer, once they have taken aim and released the arrow, it flies into the future toward its target, completely beyond their control. They have done their best to utilize their knowledge from the past to aim in the present, but once the arrow is released, there is nothing more they can do as it embarks on its journey into the future.
Many possibilities can influence the outcome. A sudden gust of wind may veer the arrow off its path. The target, which appeared stationary, might unexpectedly move, shifting its location. Alternatively, the archer may have simply aimed incorrectly and missed the target. Of course, there’s also the chance that everything goes perfectly and the arrow strikes the target. However, the archer understands upon releasing the arrow that there is nothing more they can do to change its course.
In the pursuit of a job or career, once I submit my application, it is out of my control. I have crafted my cover letter, designed my resume, located the job posting, filled out the application and sent it out into the world. There’s a chance I may never hear from them, or I might receive a polite rejection email. Alternatively, I could hear back and get an interview.
The Stoics recognized that whenever we take action in the present toward a future goal or challenge, numerous possibilities can arise, many of which depend on factors beyond our control. It’s wise to prepare for these future possibilities; I should have plans if I never hear back from them, receive a rejection email or get an interview. Each scenario could prompt a different course of action in the present to keep me moving toward my goal. However, I shouldn’t dwell on these possibilities now, as there’s no reason to become anxious or negative about outcomes that may never occur. While I should be prepared for a job rejection, I shouldn’t worry about it because there’s always the chance that things will work out in my favor and I’ll ultimately get the job.
The future becomes our enemy when we are trapped in its grasp. When we focus too much on the “what could be,” we neglect to consider what we can do right now. While it’s important to prepare for the many possibilities the future may hold based on our actions today, we shouldn’t dwell on them excessively, as they may never become our reality.
Use Time Wisely
Living in the wrong part of time can contribute to addiction. Have you ever turned to your drug of choice to forget past mistakes or escape worries about the future? It’s crucial to start using time wisely to avoid putting yourself at risk of relapse.
When it comes to our pasts, all we can do is learn and move forward. The future will always be uncertain; we can prepare for possibilities but shouldn’t dwell on any particular one. The present is fleeting, and the more time we spend caught up in the past or future, the fewer opportunities we have to act in the here and now. We must make the most of the present moment to live a good life.
GET TO KNOW THE SOBER STOIC: Derek, a writer, educator, scientist, and data analyst, battled addiction and bipolar disorder for over 15 years before achieving recovery in 2018. While 12-Step Programs provided his foundation, it was the philosophy of Stoicism that became the key to his sobriety and sanity. From mental hospitals to rehab, county jail to sober living, his journey is a testament to the power of resilience, acceptance, and self-discipline.
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