How to Be Here: A Guide to Creating a Life Worth Living

by Rob Bell

When you find yourself overwhelmed with all that is coming at you, take a deep breath and say to yourself, Just this. Just this conversation, just this 1, just this moment. You’re building muscle, learning to focus on the 1 in any situation. My friend Pete Holmes often asks, What is lacking in this moment? Because the answer is usually “nothing.” When you stress that you’re missing out, that something terrible and ominous is coming your way because of something you did or didn’t do, when you’re anxious about some upcoming event, stop. Breathe. Ask yourself, What is lacking in this moment? Look around you. Remember that the first word about you is gift. Some things you can control, some you can’t. Do the next right thing, surrender the rest. I often ask myself, What is the next right thing? Because that’s all you can do. The next right thing. You cannot do it all. You can only do the next right thing in front of you. You doing a few things well is a thousand times better than you doing lots and lots of things with half a heart because you’re rushing from thing to thing.