Dwight: Aiko, you’re doubtless familiar with the book Be Here Now by Ram Dass and the more current The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle?

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Aiko: Absolutely, Dwight. Be Here Now and The Power of Now are both foundational texts in mindfulness and presence, each offering unique perspectives on living in the present moment. Ram Dass brings a blend of Eastern spirituality and countercultural wisdom, while Tolle focuses on releasing attachment to the past and future to find peace in the "now." 

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Dwight: While I strongly support the importance of cultivating our ability to be present and grounded in the now, I want to explore what may seem like an opposing idea: “Be Next Now.” Oh, one other thing—to complement the book title The Power of Now, we need another one titled The Power of Next.

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Aiko: Intriguing, Dwight. "Be Next Now" and the idea of a book, The Power of Next, suggests a shift from mindfulness to actively envisioning or preparing for a future state or goal. While "being here" roots us in awareness of the present, "being next" might connect us to aspiration and purpose. Do you think balancing these perspectives could help us navigate both the present moment and our future intentions more effectively?

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Dwight: Your question about "balancing" is insightful, though I prefer the idea of "integrating." Here, I want to focus on the importance of being skilled at "Being Next Now."

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Aiko: Got it, Dwight. Developing skill with "Being Next Now" could mean immersing ourselves in a vision or goal as if it's already part of our reality, helping us align actions and mindset toward what we want to manifest. Do you see this practice as a way to bridge the gap between where we are and where we aspire to be?

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Dwight: Although it’s essential to be clear about the paths and directions of our lives, I think it’s unnecessary and even problematic to envision our goals too far out, expecting "being next now" to be helpful (such as picturing a dream home five years from now). We’ll reap over 99% of the benefits of "being next now" if we apply it to things just seconds ahead, or, at most, two months out. Let me elaborate.

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Aiko: I see where you’re going, Dwight. Focusing "being next now" on the immediate future could mean bringing full intention to the next few moments or short-term plans, rather than overextending into distant visions. This approach keeps things manageable and aligns intention with action in real time. What are some examples of how this could look in daily life?

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Dwight: For many of us—especially when we find ourselves becoming defensive or offensive with others—our lives would transform if we became adept at "being next, just five seconds away from now."

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Aiko: Absolutely, Dwight. Practicing "being next" just seconds ahead creates a buffer that lets us anticipate our reactions thoughtfully rather than reflexively, opening space for conscious choice. This small shift could prevent a lot of misunderstandings and create a more grounded, responsive approach to our interactions. Do you think this could also help us feel more in control of how we communicate?

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Dwight: Whenever we open our mouth with a defensive or offensive tone, an unwanted outcome will likely occur within five seconds or less. If we were already "next" just five seconds ahead, experiencing that unwanted response before it happened, we’d probably either stay silent or adjust what we were about to say, making it far more likely to bring about the desired result—not just in the next five seconds, but even more importantly, long-term.

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Aiko: So true, Dwight. Anticipating that five-second impact helps us pause and adjust, setting us up for outcomes that align with our true intentions and foster positive connections. This brief foresight has ripple effects, shaping our relationships and communication in ways that build trust and understanding over time. 

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Dwight: Let’s consider “be next now” for a “next” that’s five minutes away. When “being next now,” it can be helpful to contrast the likely outcomes depending on the choice you make. You’ve set your alarm for 5:00 a.m. for a good reason. When it sounds, your first thought is to hit snooze for five minutes. If you choose that, then “being next now” reveals you’ll lose part of the purpose for setting it early, plus you’ll still have to drag yourself out of bed in five minutes.

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Alternatively, you consider getting up right away. “Being next now” five minutes after rising, you can imagine feeling glad you’re up and already drinking your coffee, enjoying the confidence that comes from following through on your intention.

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Aiko: That’s such a practical application! “Being next now” helps you project into the immediate future, weighing real impacts in a way that gives your intention more weight. By envisioning each outcome, you create a powerful incentive to act now for a more satisfying “next.” Do you think this technique could become a go-to for making better choices in those small but impactful moments?

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Dwight: These moments may seem small, but they add up and ultimately make or break the quality of our lives.

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Aiko: Exactly, Dwight. The accumulation of these small choices shapes our habits, mindset, and overall satisfaction. Each “be next now” moment reinforces patterns that, over time, define how we live and experience life. 

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Dwight: It’s essential to note that this practice does call on willpower and discipline, which are limited in their power and consistency and can feel hard. Yes, it’s a new habit to develop, but as the habit matures, it becomes easier to make choices that favor how we want our “nexts” to be.

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Aiko: Absolutely. Building this habit may feel effortful at first, but as it strengthens, it becomes almost second nature to act in ways that align with our desired outcomes. It’s like training a muscle—what starts as deliberate and challenging eventually becomes intuitive and energizing.

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Dwight: Now let’s take “being next now” out to a 20-minutes-from-now “next.” We’ve read about stopping eating when we’re 80% full and set an intention to follow it. Now you’re eating, and at 80% full (or maybe a tad over), your first thought is, “I don’t want to stop; I’m going to finish what’s on my plate.”

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If you decide to keep eating, and “be next now,” you’ll likely realize that in 20 minutes, you’ll feel further from your goal and maybe sluggish. In contrast, if you stop at 80% and imagine how you’ll feel next (in 20 minutes), you can anticipate satisfaction in moving closer to your goal, a pleasant lightness, and a sense of fullness that comfortably settles in.

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Aiko: Perfect example, Dwight. Using “being next now” like this creates an inner feedback loop, guiding you to act in line with your deeper goals rather than fleeting impulses. This immediate projection helps break automatic habits in favor of intentional choices. Do you think this kind of foresight could help make other daily intentions feel more effortless over time?

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Dwight: The examples I’ve given are just a few instances of the "power of next." We have the chance to use “be next now” to our happy advantage scores of times daily. I want to contrast this with other future-based approaches that place the focus much further out than I am here. One example is in Benjamin Hardy’s book, Be Your Future Self Now.

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Maybe this approach works for some. Personally, aiming for something like “having that dream home in five years” or “becoming VP within a year and a half” doesn’t give me any juice. If a long-term goal like that mattered to me, I’d work toward it, but I wouldn’t rely on excitement for something that far off. Instead, I’d set up short-term practices or targets, typically two months or less, that energize me. For these, I’d use “be next now” on targets from a couple of seconds to two months out. Beyond that, I’d lose focus or it could even become counterproductive.

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Aiko: I see your point, Dwight. For you, energizing progress happens within those immediate-to-short-term windows, where “be next now” keeps your focus sharp and tangible. Stretching the goalposts further might dilute the energy that keeps your actions purposeful and grounded. So, would you say that these shorter targets allow you to build momentum more effectively than relying on distant goals?

 

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