The Feeling You’re Living In Is All You Get

There’s a quote from Chip Chipman that has always stuck with me:

“The feeling you’re living in is all you get.”

At first glance, that might sound a little bleak—like, Wait, this is it? This feeling I have right now is all I get? But the more I sit with it, the more I see the depth in it.

Because what he’s really saying is: This moment—the feeling you have right now—is the only feeling you can ever experience. Not the past. Not the future. Just this.

And man, did I get a front-row seat to that truth recently.

My Mind: The Overly Dedicated Time Traveler

The other day, I was on a perfectly nice bike ride—sun shining, fresh air, all the good stuff. But was I enjoying it? Nope. My mind had other plans.

Instead of being present, it decided to drag me back to a social event from last weekend, insisting that I must analyze everything I said and did. Did I come across the wrong way? Did anyone think I was weird? My chest tightened, anxiety flared, and I felt that familiar urge to flee or hide.

Then, as if that wasn’t enough, my mind took a detour into the future—flashing quick little horror-movie previews of an upcoming event I’ve been dreading. In an instant, I was feeling fear and social anxiety about something that hasn’t even happened yet.

Meanwhile, reality was just me, on a bike, riding through a beautiful day.

And here’s the thing: I just as easily could have been feeling something completely different.

I could have been feeling the peace and tranquility of a sunny day with nothing special to do. Or the excitement of navigating obstacles and switchbacks. Or the warmth of the sun on my skin and feeling of the air rushing past.

Any of those experiences were available to me in that moment. But instead, I was feeling whatever my mind was serving up. Not because the past or future had any power over me—but because I was tuned into those thoughts instead of what was actually happening.

You’re Always Feeling Your Thinking in the Moment

This is where Chip’s quote really lands.

We only ever feel what’s happening in our head right now. Not the actual past. Not the actual future. Just our current thinking about them.

A few minutes earlier, I was feeling anxious and self-conscious about an event that was over. A few moments later, I was feeling fear about an event that hadn’t even happened. But at any point, I could have been feeling something else entirely—if my thinking had shifted.

That’s because feelings don’t come from situations. They come from thoughts taking form right now. And thought is always moving. One moment, we’re lost in overanalysis; the next, we’re suddenly present to the warmth of the sun.

And once we see that, we don’t have to take our emotions so seriously. We don’t have to fix them or force ourselves to feel better. We just have to recognize what’s actually happening: our mind projecting a story, and our body reacting as if it’s real.

That’s all it ever is. And when we see that, the weight of those feelings starts to lift—because we know they’re temporary, thought-created, and always shifting.

What About You?

Have you ever caught yourself feeling anxious, stressed, or upset about something that isn’t even happening? Have you ever seen through the illusion, even for a moment?

I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment and let’s talk about it.