Hacks to Live in the Present Moment
Living in the present moment means no longer worrying about what happened in the past and not fearing what will happen in the future. It means enjoying what’s happening now and living for today.
One of the best, unforeseen consequences of simplifying our lives is it has allowed us to begin living our lives in the present moment.
There is only one time and place where you can be and have any control over. The present moment. Most of us spend a lot of our regular days lost in memories, reliving a sunny vacation or many more commonly repeating an old conflict of negative situation over and over in our thoughts. Or maybe we get lost in scenarios about what could happen in the future and our thoughts can become split or unfocused between several different tasks. 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.
“The secret of health for both mind and body is not too mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”
The easiest way to explain living in the present is to start by explaining what it means to not be present, since this is the state we have become habitually used to. When you aren’t being present you become a victim of time. Your mind is pulled into the past or the future, or both. You thoughts are of the past: what has been, what could have been, what you thought happened vs. what actually did happen. Or, your thoughts are of the future: what will be, what could be, and what might be.
Our routine, our habit, is to be off in our heads somewhere mulling over negativity and struggles of the past, or becoming anxious and fearful of the future. Rarely are we fully “here”; neutrally centred to see through life’s lens with clarity and awareness – a state that assists us in finding contentment and understanding in ourselves.
Preparing physically, mentally, and energetically is critical. Proactively approaching our day with a sense of sacredness will channel your body and mind to respond as such.
How to Live in the Present Moment
1.) Remove unneeded possessions
Minimalism forces you to live in the present. Removing items associated with past memories frees you and allows you to stop living in the past. Once the past no longer has power, you can begin to live in the moment.
2.) Stretch your muscles
Muscles contract overnight, and starting your day with tense once certainly won’t help with any energetic blockage. Use your body as a tool to leave behind yesterday baggage, and clear your mind for a new beginning. Yoga increases blood flow to organs and relaxes muscles and tissues.
3.) Consume soul-nourishing foods
Sattvic foods, including almonds, honey, and whole grains, are known to promote calmness and mental clarity. Food’s correlation with brain health means that a poor diet can make you feel less energetic and more depressed. How do you expect to bring your A-game to a Monday morning when your energy flow is working against you.
4.) Think beyond old solutions to problems
Our world is changing so fast that most of yesterday’s solutions are no longer the right answers today. Don’t get locked into a “but that’s how we’ve always done it” mentality. Yesterday’s solutions are not today’s solutions and they are certainly not tomorrow’s solutions.
5.) Take mindful breaths
Incorporate intent and energy into your breaths to restart your mind. Sit cross-legged and place your right hand’s middle and index fingers on your forehead and your thumb on your right nostril. Inhale deeply through your left nostril and release the thumb, exhaling thoughts from your right nostril.
6.) Connect with nature
Picnic outside, walk barefoot on grass, pick some flowers. Even if it’s five minutes of sun exposure, it helps us feel one with the universe, and any thoughtful interaction we have with Mother Earth will help ground us. Reach out to nature – the most inexpensive remedy- because nurturing your soul is essential for a strong, clear start.
7.) Block negative energy
Be selective about who and what you let into your life and enforce this every day. Don’t permit negativity to enter your space. Put your guard up when you sense danger, bad intentions, and anything that may distract you from your desired path.
8.) Let go
Letting go of something that happened years ago is important, but so is letting go of yesterday. Let go of your need to control the past, and don’t tie yourself to an object, person, or idea.
9.) Stop worrying
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. And since worry have never accomplished anything for anybody, redirect your mental energy elsewhere.
10.) Dream about the future, but work hard today
Dream big. Set goals and plan for the future. But working hard today is always the first step toward realizing your dreams tomorrow. Don’t allow dreaming about tomorrow to replace living in the moment. Dreaming about the future is only productive when combined with action taken today.
