--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Awareness requires living in the here and…" description: "\"Awareness requires living in the here and now, and not in the elsewhere, the past or the future.\" — Eric Berne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6e/eric-berne-23256_awareness_awareness-requires-living-in-the-here-an_2012446.jpg" --- # Awareness requires living in the here and now, and not in… ![“Awareness requires living in the here and now, and not in the elsewhere, the past or the future.” quote by Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6e/eric-berne-23256_awareness_awareness-requires-living-in-the-here-an_2012446.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6e/eric-berne-23256_awareness_awareness-requires-living-in-the-here-an_2012446.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6e/eric-berne-23256_awareness_awareness-requires-living-in-the-here-an_2012446.jpg) > “Awareness requires living in the here and now, and not in the elsewhere, the past or the future.” [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being present requires focusing on the current moment, not dwelling on past or future. **In simple terms:** Live in the present. Key Takeaway Practice mindfulness. Themes mindfulness presence awareness Mood calm thoughtful Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - meditation - daily reflection - stress management - decision making Key Concepts psychology temporal focus mental health Questions to Reflect On - How can you train your mind to stay present? - What habits pull you away from now? A Different Perspective Hard to maintain in a fast‑paced world. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Here and now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here-and-now/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) ## Related quotes > [“Awareness requires only that we pay attention and see things as they are. It doesn't require that we change anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/awareness-requires-only-that-we-pay-attention-and-see-things-as-they/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [Mastery of awareness requires that you never take personal offense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/mastery-of-awareness-requires-that-you-never-take-personal-offense/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Awareness requires a rupture with the world we take for granted; then old categories of experience are called into question and revised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoshana-zuboff/awareness-requires-a-rupture-with-the-world-we-take-for-granted-then/) [Shoshana Zuboff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoshana-zuboff/) > [Only one person in a thousand knows the trick of really living in the present. Most of us spend fifty-nine minutes an hour living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/storm-jameson/only-one-person-in-a-thousand-knows-the-trick-of-really-living-in-the-2/) [Storm Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/storm-jameson/) > [''I live now not before or after but now there is no point in living in the past or future because there is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/i-live-now-not-before-or-after-but-now-there-is-no-point-in-living-in/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [If you are living in the past or in the future, you will never find a meaning in the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fausto-cercignani/if-you-are-living-in-the-past-or-in-the-future-you-will-never-find-a/) [Fausto Cercignani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fausto-cercignani/) > [“We may be living past and future lives at the same time we are living this one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-dillon/we-may-be-living-past-and-future-lives-at-the-same-time-we-are-living/) [Doug Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-dillon/) > [“Time is the only limitation in your life. Living only in the past or only in the future are the biggest cheating you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-zoli/time-is-the-only-limitation-in-your-life-living-only-in-the-past-or/) Yogi Zoli > [“Don't waste time living in the past, the future has built a home for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/don-t-waste-time-living-in-the-past-the-future-has-built-a-home-for/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Don't waste time living in the past when the future has built a home for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/don-t-waste-time-living-in-the-past-when-the-future-has-built-a-home/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [People who live in the past generally are afraid to compete in the present. I've got my faults, but living in the past is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/people-who-live-in-the-past-generally-are-afraid-to-compete-in-the/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [“The payoff of living in the past or the future is you never have to do your work in the present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-payoff-of-living-in-the-past-or-the-future-is-you-never-have-to/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [The past cannot remember the past. The future can't generate the future. The cutting edge of the instant right here and now is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-past-cannot-remember-the-past-the-future-can-t-generate-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [The past is no more; the future not yet. Nothing exists except the here and now. Our grand business is not to see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-past-is-no-more-the-future-not-yet-nothing-exists-except-the-here/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [What is happening here is we are living past the age, by the millions, living past the age where cultural values make any sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/what-is-happening-here-is-we-are-living-past-the-age-by-the-millions/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) ## More by Eric Berne > [A healthy person goes 'Yes,' 'No,' and 'Whoopee!' An unhealthy person goes 'Yes, but,' 'No, but,' and 'No whoopee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/a-healthy-person-goes-yes-no-and-whoopee-an-unhealthy-person-goes-yes/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [A winner fulfills his contract with the world and with himself. That is, he sets out to do something, says that he is committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/a-winner-fulfills-his-contract-with-the-world-and-with-himself-that/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [Games are a compromise between intimacy and keeping intimacy away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/games-are-a-compromise-between-intimacy-and-keeping-intimacy-away/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [Every man must, in a measure, be alone in the world. No heart was ever cast in the same mould as that which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/every-man-must-in-a-measure-be-alone-in-the-world-no-heart-was-ever/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [Each person decides in early childhood how he will live and how he will die... His trivial behavior may be decided by reason, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/each-person-decides-in-early-childhood-how-he-will-live-and-how-he/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [The destiny of every human being is decided by what goes on inside his skull when confronted by what goes on outside his skull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/the-destiny-of-every-human-being-is-decided-by-what-goes-on-inside/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [“Beautiful friendships” are often based on the fact that the players complement each other with great economy and satisfaction, so that there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/beautiful-friendships-are-often-based-on-the-fact-that-the-players/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [A loser doesn't know what he'll do if he loses, but talks about what he'll do if he wins, and a winner doesn't talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/a-loser-doesn-t-know-what-he-ll-do-if-he-loses-but-talks-about-what/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [Whatever you do, think of next morning's headlines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/whatever-you-do-think-of-next-morning-s-headlines/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [“The essential and similar feature of both procedures and rituals is that they are stereotyped. Once the first transaction has been initiated, the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/the-essential-and-similar-feature-of-both-procedures-and-rituals-is/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [Each person designs his own life, freedom gives him the power to carry out his own designs, and power gives the freedom to interfere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/each-person-designs-his-own-life-freedom-gives-him-the-power-to-carry/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [The eternal problem of the human being is how to structure his waking hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/the-eternal-problem-of-the-human-being-is-how-to-structure-his-waking/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [No man is a hero to his wife's psychiatrist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/no-man-is-a-hero-to-his-wife-s-psychiatrist/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [Some say that one-sided love is better than none, but like half a loaf of bread, it is likely to grow hard and moldy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/some-say-that-one-sided-love-is-better-than-none-but-like-half-a-loaf/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) > [Love is nature's psychotherapy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/love-is-nature-s-psychotherapy/) [Eric Berne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) [Explore all 26 Eric Berne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/) ## More Awareness quotes > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-intoxication-of-the-ego-of-i-am/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/) [Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/) > [I know the importance of highly trained awareness of the “moment” and the immediate and intuitive response of the photographer. It should be obvious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/i-know-the-importance-of-highly-trained-awareness-of-the-moment-and/) [Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/) > [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [“It is not so much about fighting against the ego; it is more about harmonizing with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-sara/it-is-not-so-much-about-fighting-against-the-ego-it-is-more-about/) [Grace Sara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-sara/) > [I'm part of a team that raises millions of dollars and raises awareness of HIV and AIDS all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evangelista/i-m-part-of-a-team-that-raises-millions-of-dollars-and-raises/) [Linda Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evangelista/) > [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/) Vashti Quiroz-Vega > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [The bird with the thorn in its breast, it follows an immutable law; it is driven by it knows not what to impale itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/the-bird-with-the-thorn-in-its-breast-it-follows-an-immutable-law-it/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [Seeking means: to have a goal; but finding means: to be free, to be receptive, to have no goal. You, O worthy one, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeking-means-to-have-a-goal-but-finding-means-to-be-free-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between the stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/human-freedom-involves-our-capacity-to-pause-between-the-stimulus-and/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) [Browse all 4,768 Awareness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Awareness requires living in the here and now, and not in the elsewhere, the past or the future.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Berne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/awareness-requires-living-in-the-here-and-now-and-not-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Awareness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/awareness-requires-living-in-the-here-and-now-and-not-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6e/eric-berne-23256_awareness_awareness-requires-living-in-the-here-an_2012446.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6e/eric-berne-23256_awareness_awareness-requires-living-in-the-here-an_2012446.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6e/eric-berne-23256_awareness_awareness-requires-living-in-the-here-an_2012446.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Awareness requires living in the here and now, and not in the elsewhere, the past or the future.” — Eric Berne", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eric Berne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-berne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Awareness requires living in the here...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/awareness-requires-living-in-the-here-and-now-and-not-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-berne/awareness-requires-living-in-the-here-and-now-and-not-in-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```