Live in the Moment and Unlock Your Unique Potential

The Mishnah in Pirkei Avot (1:14) says: "He would say: If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And when I am for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?"

Every person has a unique role in the world that only they can fulfill, and every moment has its own unique purpose. If that moment is missed, it cannot be recovered in the next one, because the moment that passed- along with its specific mission- is lost forever. As it says, “a crooked thing cannot be made straight".

The Zohar, commenting on the verse “And Abraham was old, advanced in days, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things” (Genesis 24:1), teaches that the terms “old” and “advanced in days” refer to different things. “Old” refers to chronological age, while “advanced in days” means that he brought all his days with him- he used each day to the fullest. Abraham didn’t just grow old but arrived with every single day lived to its potential.

The Vilna Gaon writes that a person should live with the mindset that he is the only person in the world, with only this very moment, and that the mitzvah before him is the only one that exists. He must live fully in the present.

Let’s explore the depth of this message and its profound impact on our quality of life.

Only You in the World

A person should feel as though they are the only one in the world. Usually, we compare ourselves to others, and tell ourselves: If only I had studied somewhere else like so-and-so, or married someone different, or had different parents... my life would be different.
In truth however, a person should measure themselves only against themselves. You, with your background, your strengths, and your circumstances, can still reach your fullest potential.

While the past does have some influence over our present, the problem begins when we give it too much weight and believe it has the power to permanently damage our chances. The past does not limit us, but it is our present belief about the past that holds us back!

If we let go of the disempowering thoughts and focus on what we can do to create a better future, we shift out of blame and into action, and reclaim control over our lives.

A person must feel that the entire world was created for them. There is no other person to compare to, because for their mission, there is in fact no one else. Their exact role can only be fulfilled through their unique life circumstances and resources.

Even if this mission doesn’t bring public recognition or status, it is still their mission and the reson that they were created. Of course, the evil inclination tries to cast doubt on the value of what we do, to stop us from fulfilling our purpose, but we can overcome this. Korach’s mistake was that he believed he wasn’t meant to be Korach, but rather Aaron.

Only Now

A person must remember that there is no yesterday or tomorrow. There is only now.

We shouldn't say if I had used my time better yesterday, I’d be in a better place today. Even if that is true, it’s irrelevant. Your task is to make the most of this moment, regardless of what came before. It's also a mistake to say today I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I’ll be more productive tomorrow.Tomorrow will have its own challenges and mission, which cannot replace today’s.

When these thoughts come up, take a deep breath, return to the present, and say: What’s done is done. What’s coming isn’t here yet. Right now, I have this moment. I want to use it calmly and wisely, and give it my best.

What you don’t do today, you likely won’t do tomorrow either, because tomorrow’s “present” will feel just as hard to use as today’s. And if you say, “No problem, I’ll start tomorrow,” you’re missing the point- you must start using the present now! If not, you haven’t internalized your purpose.

Only This Mitzvah

A person must feel as though the only mitzvah that exists is the one before them in this moment. Sometimes, we wait around for “big” mitzvot that seem more significant. We tell ourselves: I won’t waste my energy on small stuff- I’ll save myself for something greater. This mindset leads us to do nothing at all and we find ourselves waiting forever.

The Vilna Gaon therefore taught that we should act as if there is no other mitzvah in the world except the one in front of us.

The Chafetz Chaim similarly said that when a person sits down to study a page of Gemara, he should approach it as if it’s the only page in the entire Torah. That’s the level of seriousness and focus he should bring- no other page before, no page after. Just this one.

When a person approaches every good deed this way, they experience a sense of calm and clarity that allows them to focus deeply and maximize whatever they are doing.