I started involving myself in Zen meditation to try & stop thinking about the past - and constantly worrying about the future. With a great deal of self-discipline and constant mindfulness, I've actually gotten myself to a point where I don't really do either anymore, I just sort of take each day as it comes.

I'm kind of at this stuck point, though, because I think it's crippled my ability to have hope or make decent plans & follow them out, and I don't know anyone who is having this kind of experience... I've been using meditation as a tool for about 20 years now, but never w/any kind of teaching or guidance other than from books & online resources. Most people I know who would be the type to meditate either tried it & gave up because 'they couldn't meditate', or they're just starting to experiment with it.