Choosing to live in the past or the future not only robs you of enjoyment today, but it also robs you of truly living. The only important moment is the present moment. Each day is full of endless possibilities! Start it with a smile. You are in control of your attitude every morning, keep it optimistic and expectant. You can’t fully appreciate today if you worry too much about tomorrow. Realize that tomorrow is going to happen whether you worry about it or not. Staying n this moment is an art, truly. 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 wisely and earnestly. Life unfolds in the present. But so often, we let the present slip away, allowing time to rush past unobserved and unseized, and squandering the precious seconds of our lives as we worry about the future and ruminate about what’s past.
When we’re at work, we fantasize about being on vacation; on vacation, we worry about the work piling up on our desks. We dwell on intrusive memories of the past or fret about what may or may not happen in the future. We don’t appreciate the living present because our “monkey minds,” as Buddhists call them, vault from thought to thought like monkeys swinging from tree to tree. We need to live more in the moment. Living in the moment—also called mindfulness—is a state of active, open, intentional attention on the present. When you become mindful, you realize that you are not your thoughts; you become an observer of your thoughts from moment to moment without judging them. Cultivating a nonjudgmental awareness of the present bestows a host of benefits. Mindfulness reduces stress, boosts immune functioning, reduces chronic pain, lowers blood pressure, and helps patients cope with cancer.
Living in the moment involves a profound paradox: You can’t pursue it for its benefits. That’s because the expectation of reward launches a future-oriented mindset, which subverts the entire process. Instead, you just have to trust that the rewards will come. There are many paths to mindfulness—and at the core of each is a paradox. Ironically, letting go of what you want is the only way to get it. Be right here right now! Just let go and let yourself be in the moment. Learning how to be present isn’t easy. Focusing on the here and now can feel impossible with so many thoughts taking up your headspace. Yet if you can tune out these ruminations, there are benefits to bringing your full attention to the current moment. Eliminating unnecessary worries helps with your mental health. Doing so means more time to focus on present events and your well-being because you aren’t stuck thinking about the past or future.
Identifying positive things that happen to us each day that we’re grateful for can help you stay present. A journal is a great way to reflect on something that you appreciate in life or record fun thoughts you’ve had. Your journal can include anything, from how bright the sun was shining one day or how you appreciate the new winter boots you just bought. Remembering the good in your life empowers you to continue to find more of it. You should strive to have a balanced headspace. Living in the present doesn’t mean ignoring the past or future but having a healthy balance. Accept your thoughts but don’t let them control you. There aren’t any instructions or simple steps to follow to achieve balance either, because it’s personal to you. What works for you might not work for others, but it’s about putting in the effort to find your unique balance.
You aren’t a failure if you haven’t been regularly checking in with yourself. We all forget sometimes, but looking at our mistakes as lessons helps us learn for the future.
**Swimsuit and nightgown by Chicwish**
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