Command The Present
- Original Professional Hustler
- Mar 22
- 6 min read
The past is unchangeable and the future uncertain. The only moment you have is now. So live it.
THE PERSONAL IMPACT I HAD
“In the midst of disclosing my legal situation I knew the past could not be changed, and the future was uncertain. As I talked to potentially the biggest transaction for our business, I knew the only thing I could control was my response to his question. Did I do what they said I did?”
MOST PEOPLE DWELL
People Consumed with Regret Think: I know what happened. I carry it with me every day. I wonder if I can ever make it up to them. I’m learning every day how to cope with it.
How They Address Situations: “I wish I could change the past.” signals preoccupation with the past, not being present minded.
Lack of Confidence: Many notice preoccupations. Not meeting people in the eyes when you speak. Slouched disposition. Staring off into space and constantly talking about the past signal to others when a person is consumed with the past.
THE MINDSET OF PRESENT
Being present minded is:
A person who consistently illustrates virtue in the opportunities life presents them.
How It Illustrates:
Present Action - “I found out online you were indicted. I have some reservations.”
Present Response – “I’m glad you have reservations. It is both acute and prudent to do this. It shows that you are well informed and careful. These are amazing attributes which make a trustworthy person.”
What This Action Does:
Shows you recognize other attributes. You are observant and paying attention to someone else besides yourself. People value being seen.
Shows you are courageous. You exhibit bravery by not curtailing from confrontation.
Shows you have self-respect. You are not defensive which shows you do not feel ashamed of who you are and can give credit where it is due. Most people should get a good explanation why a person they are potentially involving themselves with is in a potentially precarious situation.
Present Reinforcement Techniques (Use Them)
Deep Breaths. When your mind wanders into imaginary futures or obsesses over something which happened days ago stop. Take a pause. Breathe deeply for four seconds, hold it for four seconds and let it out slowly. Continue. This literally forces you to pay attention to the present.
Ask Yourself A Simple Question. When your mind keeps role playing different scenarios ask yourself a question out loud (yes talk to yourself). Say, “What am I doing this for?”. This will force your brain to search for an answer rather than watch imaginary television.
Engage in a Physical Activity. This does not need to be exercise. You can engage in something which requires hand eye coordination. Bounce a rubber ball against the floor a few times. Flip a coin a few times and catch it. Balance a pencil on your finger. The goal is to engage force yourself to engage with reality not your mind.
The Value of This Philosophy
Savoring the moment is a strong predictor for positive emotion levels. Being present will make you have a higher emotional levels. (2)
You will train yourself to have excellent coordination when sequencing complex daily tasks. (3)
Research has shown that talking to yourself out loud can motivate you to move forward with your goals, help you focus on a task at hand, and combat self-criticism. (4)
Your 7 Day Hustle Challenge
Day 1 – 2: Take the time to observe ten (10) attributes you admire at work or socially about other people. Compliment them about it. Don’t do it for any other reason that to practice observation. If you feel bold compliment a stranger without introducing yourself to them. This isn’t an attempt for a date. This is your way of learning to pay attention.
Day 3 – 6. Attempt to flip a coin 100 times in a row each day nonstop. This is not arbitrary. It is teaching you focus. People whose thoughts race around their mind are often not focused. Train yourself to focus on the present.
Day 7: Reflect: Did you notice yourself able to identify something positive in a hard conversation with a loved one? Did you notice yourself able to have a longer attention span after you were exhausted?
IN CLOSING
I do not wish my personal circumstances on anyone. It is for this reason that now I am the ultimate authority on what not to do. My much-anticipated new book “Turning Indictments To Dollars” talks about how to avoid the pitfalls I suffered. If you are accused of something you know you didn’t do — this book will offer you the path which grants you success. Trust me you will want to Sign up for free during the pre-release period to take advantage of unique $0.99 pricing on launch.
Sign up for free to listen free of charge to my chapter in “Many Paths To Profit”. You can pick up a copy of my international best-selling and award winning book, “I Made It Then I Didn’t” as well for a deeper insight.
The concept I teach in this article is free. Some of my personal stories are not free of charge as everything costs something. The techniques I discuss in this article I use. Small actions like the ones I discussed are lifelines for me being present. Present circumstances are usually not as bad as imagined future ones. Stay present and command the present.
To Your Knowledge Success!
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Sources
1) The life of Christopher Knight Lopez a Professional Hustler turned International Best Seller and Published Author of “I Made It Then I Didn’t”.
2) Mindfulness (NY). “Being present and enjoying it: Dispositional mindfulness and savoring the moment are distinct, interactive predictors of positive emotions and psychological health”. Laura G Kiken, Kristjen B Lundberg, Barbara L Fredrickson. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Oct 1. Published in final edited form as: Mindfulness (N Y). 2017 Mar 29;8(5):1280–1290. doi: 10.1007/s12671-017-0704-3
3) Human Movement Science. “Development of eye-hand coordination in typically developing children and adolescents assessed using a reach-to-grasp sequencing task”. Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo, Susana Wu, Mina Nouredanesh, James Tung, Lisa W. Christian. Volume 80, Dec 32021, 102868.
4) Shine App. “4 Science-Backed Reasons to Say Your Self-Talk Out Loud”. Martha Tesema. May 21, 2021. Web: https://advice.theshineapp.com/articles/4-science-backed-reasons-to-take-your-self-talk-out-loud/#:~:text=Research%20has%20shown%20that%20talking,%2C%20and%20combat%20self%2Dcriticism. Accessed 22 March 2025 951AM CST.
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Not a form of investment advice. Please consult a professional registered to give you advice about your individual circumstance. This article is for educational purposes and entertainment purposes only. Please do not email the author about advice on investing or strategies on making investments.
About Christopher: Christopher Knight Lopez is a Professional Hustler turned International Best Seller, Award Winner of the December 2024 prestigious International Impact Book Awards — a premier award program dedicated to celebrating and recognizing the exceptional work of authors around the globe and Published Author of “I Made It Then I Didn’t”. He is also a Co-Author with Kevin “The Shark” Harrington “Many Paths To Profit”. Christopher has opened over 7 businesses in his 15-year career. Christopher’s purpose is to take advantage of various market-driven opportunities. Christopher is a certified Master Project Manager (MPM), and Accredited Financial Analyst (AFA). Christopher previously held his Series 65 securities license examination and was a Master Financial Planner (MFP). Christopher also held his General Lines — Life, Accident, Health & HMO. Christopher has managed a combined 286mm USD in reported Assets Under Management & Assets Under Advisement. Christopher has work experience in 33 countries, raised over 50mm USD for various businesses, and grossed over 13.0mm in his personal career. Christopher worked in the highly technical industries of: biotechnology, finance, securities, manufacturing, real estate, and residential mortgages. Christopher is a United States Air Force Veteran. Christopher has a passion for family, competitive sports, fishing, martial arts and advocacy for entrepreneurs. Christopher provides self-help classes for up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Christopher’s passion to mentor comes from belief that entrepreneurs need guidance. The world is full of conflicting information about entrepreneur identity. See more at www.christopherklopez.com.
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