Why does Naval say 'Future anxiety and past regret are the roots of suffering'?

Hey, that question really hits the nail on the head. Naval's statement is arguably the cornerstone of his life philosophy. I'll unpack it in plain talk to help you understand.

Why is This the Source of Suffering?

Think about it: we humans live physically in the here and now, but our brains come equipped with a "time machine." This machine either drags us back to the past or launches us into the future.

The problem lies with this "time machine."

1. Returning to the Past: Regret

"Ugh, if only I hadn't said that." "If only I'd bought that house/stock five years ago, I'd be..." "I regret choosing this major in college."

Sounds familiar, right? That's "regret for the past."

When you turn on this time machine to go back, what are you doing? You're replaying a movie you can't edit. You watch it over and over, telling yourself "that part was wrong," but you have no editing rights.

And here comes the suffering: Your brain expends enormous energy on something that's already happened and is unchangeable, generating negative emotions. It's like pushing hard against an immovable wall. The wall doesn't budge; only you end up exhausted. The past is that wall.

2. Flying to the Future: Anxiety

"What if I bomb this interview?" "Mortgage payment is due next month, will have I enough?" "The pressure of kids' education, parents' elderly care..."

That's "anxiety about the future."

When you steer your time machine to the future, what are you doing? You're scaring yourself with a horror movie that hasn't premiered yet, one that might not even exist. Your brain conjures countless "possible bad outcomes," making you feel fear and pressure in advance for these "imagined crises."

And so suffering arrives again: Our bodies can't distinguish real threats from ones our minds invent. When you're anxious, your heart races, your palms sweat – as if a tiger were chasing you. But in reality, there's nothing there except that "what if" in your head. You're paying a real emotional price for mere possibilities.

The Core: We Miss the Only Real Thing – The Present

See, whether it's regret or anxiety, they share a common thread:

They both pull you away from the "now," the only truly real time-space.

Naval's point is that all life's experiences – eating, drinking, breathing, chatting with a friend – can only happen in the present moment.

When you're immersed in regret, you miss the delicious food right in front of you; you don't hear your friend's concern.
When you're consumed by anxiety, you can't enjoy the sunshine now, you can't feel the peace of this moment.

Your body is here, but your mind is either on the already sunken "Titanic" or at a future "asteroid impact" site. Meanwhile, you completely miss the actual journey: the "Now" cruise ship, sailing peacefully under sunny skies.

Suffering is this state of disconnection between body and mind, this state of living in a phantom time-space.

What to Do About It? – Embrace the Present (Be Present)

This is why Naval so strongly advocates "being present," which is also the core issue "mindfulness" aims to address.

"Being present" doesn't mean you shouldn't plan or learn from the past. It means:

Plan for the future, but don't agonize over it.
- You can make a repayment plan (that's taking action now), but don't lie in bed every night imagining the consequences of failure (that's anxiety).
Learn from the past, but don't dwell on regrets.
- You can review past failures, summarize lessons learned (that's learning now), but don't keep chanting "if only..." every day (that's regret).

Small Tips for Practicing "Being Present":

Focus on your breath: When anxious, feel your breath – in and out. It's the simplest way to pull yourself back to "now."
Engage your senses: When eating, truly eat – savor the flavors. When walking, truly walk – feel your feet touch the ground. When showering, feel the water on your skin.
Do one thing at a time: Don't eat while scrolling your phone and worrying about work. Your brain will fragment.

To Sum Up

Naval's statement tells us a simple yet profound truth:

Your suffering almost entirely stems from your mind leaving the "now" – the only reality – and instead manufacturing regret over an unchangeable past and anxiety over an unpredictable future. Happiness and inner peace, however, come precisely from reining in that wandering mind and anchoring it firmly in this very moment.

Hope this explanation helps!