Here is a chapter from my new book, The Day Makes the Year (Makes a Life), which will be released in late summer. The book is based on six core principles for creating daily success that leads to long-term success. This chapter is from principle one, The Day: Everything you want or need in the future is created in The Day. Everything. Today.

Have you ever heard the saying, keep your head where your feet are? That is the perfect mantra for The Day. It means to keep your thoughts in the moment. It is being present. To focus on the task or conversation at hand. Right where your feet are. 

When your thoughts are scattered, you’re not in the moment. Your attention and energy are diverted when you’re not in the moment. Think of it like having holes in a garden hose. If the hose has multiple leaks, the water will go in various directions, and the pressure will be reduced. Making the water flow less effective. It will take longer to water or wash something. Similarly, when your attention and energy are divided, your focus and effectiveness will be reduced, and your productivity and quality of work will suffer.

Here are two ways to keep your head where your feet are and have a successful day:

Stop thoughts of the past in their tracks. 

When our mind drifts to the past, it usually has some form of “woulda shoulda coulda.”  That thinking changes nothing. What’s done is done. 

Alcoholics Anonymous founder Bill Wilson wrote that we would not regret the past or wish to shut the door on it. I understand the sentiment. Although, I find it hard not to regret some things I’ve done and the people I hurt. What I don’t have to do is live in that regret of the past. I need to learn from it. I can’t let that regret drag me to the past. I need to stay where my feet and head are. Taking action to continue to live in a way to amend my past and not repeat it.

But you need to bring those thoughts back to where your feet are now. Ask yourself if there is something you can or should do about it now. So often, you can’t. But if you can, write it down as a future action item or jump on it immediately if appropriate.

Remember this. You drive a car forward by looking out the front windshield and only glancing in the rearview mirror when needed. Things will not turn out well if you drive your car by only looking at the rearview mirror. 

Turn negative or stressful thoughts of the future into action now. 

Of course, you want to think and plan for the future. You have to know where you’re going to get there. But occasionally, you may have negative or stressful thoughts of the future, causing your mind to take off running from your feet. 

It’s not uncommon. Uncertainty, worry, stress, and anxiety can easily take you out of the moment. So does feeling like you have no control over what’s taking place. We’ll address that in Principle Two on Taking Responsibility.

Remember though. The future is not pre-determined. All those concerns you have in the future are just zapping you of today’s energy and focus. It’s taking you away from the things you can do now to address what you are worrying about and stressing over.

To return your mind to your feet, return your mindset to The Day. Take some deep breaths. Look around the room and get centered. I like to stop and look at the pictures of my family, including pets, of course. Or close your eyes and think of 3-5 things you are grateful for in your life at that very moment.

Then ask yourself the same question as before: Is there something you can or should do now? Sometimes the right action is to tell yourself not now and then go on with other actions to create your One-Day Success. 

So let me ask, how much more success can you create today by keeping your head where your feet are?