Living in the moment means to be present, conscious and
aware of the present with every one of your senses. This can be hard to do as
we live in a world of stress and demands and worries about the future. But
living fully in the present moment you will find that you have more peace of
mind and joy.
There are simple steps you can take to make the transition
to living each moment in the present:
Do your thoughts wander to painful past events or future
worries? Acknowledge those events or feelings briefly. But then purposely turn
your attention to the present moment.
Look around you. Don’t take everyday activities and moments
for granted. Realize the beauty around you.
Participate fully. Don’t just go through the motions. If you
are at work, give one hundred and ten percent. Same goes for the housework. No
matter the task at hand, big or small, do it and do it well. Own it.
Wake up and SMILE! And anytime a negative thought or emotion
comes your way, again acknowledge it briefly but turn away from it. A smile is
the best way to push those feelings away.
Act as if tomorrow will never come! Savor every moment to
the fullest.
Play like a child! Children enjoy every moment for what it
is as they haven’t learned to stress about what the future holds or the
mistakes or trauma’s of the past.
Forgive. This one can be difficult. But if you carry grudges
you are never really over the past and you close off your heart. Forgiveness
allows us to live fully in the moment with an open heart.
Take time out and notice your breath. Noticing your
breathing your mind actually quiets down and allows you to pay attention to the
present moment.
Commit random acts of kindness. Pay it forward. Put out
positive. Helping others takes your focus off of yourself and gives you a great
feeling when you realize how happy you made someone else.
Take a media/news fast. Too many
negative images and messages come our way daily. Tune them out for a while. And
turn off the cell phone once and a while.
By consciously turning your
attention to the present moment you will find that stress slips away and you
find more happiness. It takes some conscious work at first but it you
consistently practice these tips you will find it becoming easier to stay in
the moment!
