Read time: 3 min.

A couple of nights ago, I found myself in a ridiculous situation.

I was standing at the sink, toothbrush in hand, ready to dive into bed.

But my mind had different plans - it went into overdrive.

• “I should’ve worked more today.”

• "Tomorrow, I’ll need to catch up."

• “Why am I even brushing my teeth? I could be working!”

It sounds absurd now, but at that moment, I was completely stuck—resisting the moment.

My body was ready to rest, but my mind was fighting it—projecting itself into the future, solving problems that didn’t even exist yet.

That’s the thing about resistance: it shows up when you least expect it.

It creeps in during the simplest moments, like when you’re brushing your teeth or lying in bed, and turns the moment into a struggle.

I bet you’ve felt this too. The endless “shoulds” and “what ifs.” That tight knot in your chest, whispering that you’re falling behind, even when you’ve already done enough.

But in the middle of that chaos, I had a moment of clarity:

‘’The only thing you need to get right... is this moment.’’

Not tomorrow, not next week. Not the mountain of tasks you’ve convinced yourself you must tackle. Just this moment.

Think about it. How many times have you worried about what might happen, only to find that it never does—or that worrying about it didn’t help?

The future isn’t shaped by worry, anxiety, or fear.

It’s shaped by the actions you take now.

Let me be clear: I’m not saying ignore the future. Plan, sure. Dream, absolutely. But don’t live there.

Because the people who do? They spend their days stuck in a loop of stress and inaction.

If you can stay in this moment—make the right choice here, take the right step now—you’ll find that everything else falls into place.

The future only takes shape from the choice you make right now.

Focus on the next step — not the whole staircase.

Forget the 100 things you “should” be doing.

Ask yourself:

What’s the most important thing I can do right now?

Then, do that.

• Maybe that’s finishing a task.

• Maybe it’s resting because you’ve done enough.

• Maybe it’s enjoying your favorite song for two minutes to reset your mind.

When you approach life this way, it stops feeling like an endless struggle. It becomes easier, lighter—even enjoyable.

And here’s the paradox:

The less you resist the present, the more productive, creative, and successful you become.

Next time you feel that familiar stress creeping in, remind yourself:

The only thing you need to get right is this moment.

Much love,

— Martijn