The other day a woman tearfully recalled a traumatic moment from her childhood.  Her mother had sent her on an errand, and she had failed.  Her mother confronted her, saying that she must try again, threatening that if she failed this time, she needn't bother coming home ever again.  Though six decades had passed, that merciless confrontation was as real in this woman's mind as if it had happened today.  And that got me to thinking: if physicists and philosophers are correct that linear time is illusory (and I have no reason to doubt them), then there's nothing wrong with dwelling on the past or daydreaming about the future.  In fact, reminiscing about long-distant events could actually be empowering.  In the absence of linear time, everything in our lives is happening simultaneously.  When we dwell on a so-called past event, we're bringing additional consciousness to that timeless moment.  On those occasions when we feel especially alert, perhaps even anticipating (as if through precognition) what's about to happen, it might be because in the so-called future our minds are racing back to that event, bringing new focus and increased knowledge or wisdom.  In other words, perhaps our "future" selves are offering the benefit of hindsight, in advance, as it were.  In any case, if linear time is an illusion then past events are as "real" as anything in the present.  All I know for sure is that I'll never tell anyone to "get over" the past again.

If linear time is an illusion, then daydreaming about the future might be related to future memories.  When we set goals, we're simply remembering the future.  That's why goal-setting helps to ensure success—it's a self-fulfilling prophecy, a foregone conclusion.  When we daydream about the future, perhaps it's our future-selves thinking back, saying, "Look how far I've come!"  Or perhaps it's our future-selves offering a little solace, saying, "Cheer up, kiddo—things will get better."

I've always loved Ram Dass' teaching: "Be here now."  I can't help but consider some slight revisions: "Be there now" and "Be then now."