shaping the present moment, you shape the next moment and the moment after that

you’re acting here with intention. You’re not just being passively aware of what’s happening in the present moment. You’re trying to shape the present moment skillfully, and through shaping the present moment, you shape the next moment and the moment after that, at the same time remembering your original intention to stay with the breath.

So even though our primary focus is on the present moment, we’re bringing past and future to bear on the present: a clear memory of why we’re here, and what we should be doing, what we should be focusing on. And when you find something good, what you do to maintain it." ~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Past & Future in the Present"