Meta Description

Anxiety about the future never ends—even as we grow older. This heartfelt blog by a severely disabled author explores the meaning of “living in the present,” guided by classical Japanese texts like Hōjōki and Tsurezuregusa. A thoughtful and empathetic reflection on reclaiming peace of mind.

Primary Keywords

• Anxiety about the future
• Living in the present
• Chain of anxiety
• Hōjōki modern interpretation
• Life reflection from a disabled person

Related Keywords

• Classical wisdom on life
• Here and now mindfulness
• Disabled blogger
• Philosophical meaning of life
• Mindset and well-being
• Coping with anxiety

Table of Contents

• Introduction | Why is the future so frightening?
• Chapter 1 | The True Nature of Anxiety: Imagination
• Chapter 2 | Wisdom from the Classics: Living in the Now
• Chapter 3 | Facing the Present as a Disabled Person
• Chapter 4 | Small Habits to Bring the Mind Back to Now
• Chapter 5 | It’s Okay to Fear the Future—But Stay Rooted in the Present
• Conclusion | May These Words Be a Source of Support

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Introduction | Why is the future so frightening?

“Thinking about the future makes me anxious.”

This isn’t a rare feeling—it’s a universal experience shared by people everywhere.

Yet without realizing it, we devote most of our energy to worrying about a future that hasn’t arrived. We imagine disasters and failures that haven’t happened, and we try to prepare for or avoid them.

Ironically, the future never stops. Young people worry about retirement, the elderly worry about death. This chain of anxiety can last a lifetime.

If we continue like this, we lose the ability to live in the now.

In this article, I’ll explore what it truly means to live in the present—through the lens of classical wisdom and my personal experience as someone living with a severe disability.

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Chapter 1 | The True Nature of Anxiety: Imagination

What is anxiety about the future? Most of it stems from imagination—things that haven’t happened yet.

When I first became disabled, I was overwhelmed by thoughts like:

• What if I can’t walk anymore?
• What if I can’t work—how will I survive?
• What if no one needs me anymore?

More than 90% of these fears were hypothetical. I was exhausting myself over things that weren’t real.

Anxiety is a habit of the mind. And often, it becomes heavier and more restrictive than reality itself.

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Chapter 2 | Wisdom from the Classics: Living in the Now

Learning from Hōjōki: Go with the Flow

“The flow of the river never ceases, and the water is never the same.”

This famous line from Hōjōki by Kamo no Chōmei expresses the impermanence of all things. Nothing stays the same—everything flows.

Our obsession with the future is like trying to scoop up water from a running stream.

What truly matters is how deeply we can experience the only moment that exists: now.

Learning from Tsurezuregusa: Accepting Imperfection

“If you expect inconvenience as normal, you will never feel lacking.”

Yoshida Kenkō teaches us to let go of overplanning and excessive expectations. Instead, we must accept what we have, as it is, here and now.

This attitude mirrors what we call “mindfulness” today.

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Chapter 3 | Facing the Present as a Disabled Person

I acquired my disability in midlife. At first, the weight of anxiety about the future felt unbearable.

Would I ever go outside again? Would I be able to keep working?

Then one day, lying in bed, I looked out the window and saw a single flower bathed in light, swaying gently.

At that moment, I was struck by the beauty of this moment.

I stopped thinking about the future and focused on my senses—on the sights and feelings right in front of me.

And the anxiety began to soften.

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Chapter 4 | Small Habits to Bring the Mind Back to Now

How can we return to the present even while anxiety lingers?

Here are three small habits I’ve found helpful:

1. Focus on Deep Breathing

Inhale deeply, exhale slowly. This alone helps bring your awareness back to the here and now.

2. Say “Thank You” Three Times a Day

Gratitude anchors your attention to the present—not to a future that doesn’t exist yet.

3. Write Down One Thing You Accomplished

Instead of listing what you didn’t do, record one thing you did—no matter how small. It builds a kinder view of yourself.

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Chapter 5 | It’s Okay to Fear the Future—But Stay Rooted in the Present

Being afraid of the future means you care deeply about life.

But you don’t have to carry all of that fear today.

The future will be lived by your future self.

So allow your current self to live now.

You can carry your anxiety, gently, while still taking one step forward each day.

That, to me, is both true strength—and quiet kindness.

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Conclusion | May These Words Be a Source of Support

Anxiety may never fully go away. But we can learn to live alongside it.

Hōjōki and Tsurezuregusa gently encourage us to savor the present moment.

And if these words reach even one person struggling with anxiety, and offer them a moment of calm—

Then my present, too, will have had meaning.