Live in the Moment

Live in the moment — you must have heard it before — from many people and probably many times.

We need to live more in the present moment, also called mindfulness, is a state of an active, non-judgmental and conscious attention on the present. It is awareness (with all your senses) about self, others and surroundings in any particular moment. It means not being anxious or worrying about the future nor dwelling in the past. 

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wise and live earnestly" Buddha 

Benefits of living in the moment 

More awareness about thoughts and feelings 

Improved and satisfying relationships – you are more connected to others 

Reduced stress, fear, worry and anxiety resulting better mental well-being 

Enhanced gratefulness and enjoyment in life 

Have high self-esteem 

Noticing the unnoticed 

Better decision making as you are more aware about the options 

Feel more conscious, peaceful, focused and alive 

Better control over your mind, emotions and body 

Increased concentration and productivity 

More skilled management and balancing of energy 

When you concentrate your attention on the present moment, you focus on the task at hand. You give your full attention to what you are doing right now and you let go of outcomes. You will have more meaningful, valued and qualitative moments in life. 

How to Live in the Moment?

Stop Worrying 

Several thoughts, consequences and possible scenarios come in your mind, most of which are unlikely to come true can sometimes dominate your headspace. Recognising, accepting and observing helps you be more aware about worries. Donʼt try to ignore, fight, or control them like you usually do. Notice that when you donʼt try to control the anxious thoughts that pop up, they soon pass, like flowing water moving in the river. Itʼs only when you engage your worries that you get stuck. 

Unplug and live in the moment

Social media addiction, which has evolved in the last decade or so, has worsened the mental wellness. The reality is that many of us are “plugged” in for far too long. We are living in virtual digital world. You canʼt engage and communicate with real people including yourself if your eyes are focused on your phone and your neck is bent toward the ground. You canʼt notice and connect with nature when you have smartphone in your hand during morning walk or in car. “Unplug” and be in the present moment. Observe, notice and experience the present moment. 

Meditation

 One of the best techniques to keep you in the present moment is meditation. Meditation techniques like controlled breathing, relaxation, pointed concentration, body awareness and thoughts monitoring etc. revolve around paying attention. Adopt meditation techniques which suit you and make it a part of your routine life. The more you will practice, the more you live in present. 

Practice Mindfulness 

Notice and be more aware about the self and people/things in the surrounding 

Mindful nature walks 

While you go for morning walk/jogging, try to notice the little things, the flowers, trees, clouds, birds, colours, sound of leaves, or cool blowing breeze. Take advantage of the natural beauty around you to cultivate greater mindfulness. Wake up to have a mindful nature walk before your day begins. 

Mindful eating 

How often do you sit down to eat, completely distracted? With smartphones in your hands, perhaps youʼre checking your email, Whats-app, Twitter or Facebook. Try to make your eating time mindful. When eating your breakfast, lunch or dinner, simply eat. No digital devices, books, magazine or newspaper, etc. Pay more attention to what youʼre eating, the sensory experiences — colour, aroma, texture, taste and smell. 

Mindful communication

Practice mindful speaking and listening. Being more aware about what you speak and hear will not only help you to live in the present moment, it will also improve your communication skills and interpersonal relationships. Listen to others, be aware about your own internal thoughts and control on your words during communications. 

Mindful writing

When writing it is easier to become more aware about your thoughts, values and beliefs. I have become more aware about my passion and what I like and love to do, maybe you will to if you spend time writing mindfully. Writing in your journal, or diary could be a meditation practice, when the present moment absorbs your full attention.

Mindful parenting

Not only will this boost your awareness in the present moment; it will also help to encourage mindfulness in your children. Children are naturally mindful, they notice the world around them with unlimited curiosity, like — fascinated by dew on a leaf or shapes of stone they find on the roadside. It's the grown ups who are often the ones teaching them competition and hurrying them along. Appreciate this natural inclination to curiousity, and you can nurture and appreciate your childrenʼs innate capacity to be present in each moment. 

Mindful showering - mindful driving - mindful working - mindful exercising - mindful swimming - mindful breathing - mindful playing and so on. Whatever you do, be more aware about your sensual experiences, body sensations, emotions, hormonal triggers, situational experiences, surrounding people and things. When you enable yourself to observe and feel all this, you have started living in present moment.

Balance among past, present & future 

This doesn't get you off the hook for goal-setting or preparing for the future. You can do these things and still enjoy each moment as it unfolds. For instance, if you have set a goal to run every day to do a marathon next year, you can embrace mindfulness in every run, maintain committed to doing it again tomorrow, and know that this commitment will serve you in your end goal of the marathon.

Likewise, the past is one of your best teachers in life. You learn from mistakes and these experiences help you when you deal with similar challenges and problems in present. At times, you need to recall past events and happenings. But it has a different perspective – itʼs not for feeling bad or bitter, Itʼs for improved knowledge and skills for dealing with problems in present moment. 

A fair balance of past, present and future is required for living a meaningful life. Like all skills, training yourself to enjoy and live in the moment takes time and practice. 

Begin now and see life from a new and fresh perspective. 

 Invajy