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Our culture is immersed in one simplistic theme: Live in the moment; live in the now. Whether you watch Oprah Winfrey or read the latest self-help best seller, you’re likely to encounter at least some variation of the same message: Make the most of your life; live in the present.

One of the earliest of the modern self-help gurus, Wayne Dyer, wrote: “Present-moment living, getting in touch with your now, is at the heart of effective living.”

This approach is inherently foolish and in some ways denies man’s most significant gifts. What distinguishes man from his pets and most everything else, and what has been finely developed over many years of evolution, is our ability to live beyond just the moment. We are singularly aware of more than just the now – we know there’s a past and a future as well as the present.

In fact, concentrating so completely on the now can actually be dangerous and harmful. To be healthy and productive in our personal and professional lives, we must constantly balance the past, present and future. That’s what allows us to grow, to become, to fulfill our potential – to unlock the door to an abundant life.

Think about it for a moment. Most of the dysfunctions, the disorders of our lives, result from an imbalance of the past, present and future. My newscasts are filled with those disorders.

Our financial crisis is symptomatic of a nation that has failed to plan for the future. Our greed demanded instant gratification, with Americans buying homes they could not afford, taking out mortgages they could not pay – with the enticement of equally greedy institutions – and the nation falling deeply into debt. All the while, the future of our children is underfunded.

Those who ignore the past often underestimate their limitations and failures and repeat their mistakes. Myopic pride blinds them to the realities of the future. Corrupt politicians are always making headlines, convinced that they will get away with one more deal. Some of the Central Iowa Employment and Training Consortium extravagances underline this imbalance.

The challenges of managing a business in difficult times can test anyone. But when unreasonable margins of profit are required at the expense of the long-term health of the company, foolish decisions often result. Cutbacks may save money in the short term, but customers may gravitate elsewhere and never return. Wise leaders try to balance the needs of the future with successes of the past and the realities of the present, as harsh as those realities might be.

Concentrating on becoming, relishing the present but learning from the past and focusing on the future – that’s the secret to unlocking an abundant life personally and professionally. Seize that unique ability and use it!

John Bachman is the anchorman on WHO-TV’s 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts.