To live in the moment, or in the present, refers to a state of being aware, conscious, alert, in tune with your senses, and focused on what is happening at that particular moment in time. It is the opposite of “automatic living”, that is, just going through the motions.

More importantly, the present is a time during which we stop dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. We are able to enjoy the here and now.

Our Mind Creates Our World

Our mind is a powerful thing that processes all of our life’s experiences, and is also the instigator of our actions. However, most of the time, we are not even aware our own mind and its full power and potential. We lurch from one thought to the next with no rhyme or reason, and often feel the world is external to us, outside ourselves, and that we have no control over it.

The truth is that living in the present can help you gain the skills you need to take control of your life, through focus and concentration.

We Value What We Pay Attention To

When we concentrate our attention on the present, we focus on the task at hand, such as washing the dishes, gardening, or spending time with a loved one. We are not just sitting next to them on the sofa, with both of us fiddling with our cell phones. We are making eye contact, speaking, listening, and perhaps being affectionate. We give our full attention to what we are doing and we let go of the rest.

Being Mindful

The practice of living in the moment is referred to as being mindful – in other words, paying attention. Being mindful when we eat means we enjoy our food more, because we are not wolfing it down. Being mindful as we walk through the park means we can enjoy the beauty of nature, such as the flowers and birdsong. It is about quality not quantity, brief moments in the present that take us out of our busy day. We can stop running around propelled by stress and take a short “mini-vacation” through mindfulness practice.

How to Start Mindfulness Practice

Mindfulness practice starts with observing things more closely, and then trying to describe them. Imagine washing the dishes. Think of the sight, sound, smell, touch and so on. What does it feel like? How do you feel when you are doing it?

For most of us, this is a dull chore, and one we usually do on autopilot without thinking about it. But thanks to mindfulness, it can become interesting and even fun.

Stopping to reflect on one or two of our actions throughout the day can help us discover the beauty and wonder of all we do. We stop taking things for granted.

We also start to feel more positive energy because we are being less dragged down by the baggage of our past, and are giving ourselves more and more permission to enjoy ourselves and have fun. We are creating special little moments, and through those moments, can feel confident we have more like them to look forward to.

Live Every Moment Like It Counts

Life is too short to sleepwalk through it. Adding mindfulness as a daily practice can help you truly appreciate all you have. You will notice your work improves, your relationships get better, and everything starts to feel more effortless and less stressful. It does take practice, but the result is a happier, healthier you with a rich life full of meaning.

Living in the moment may seem like a dream come true and an impossible goal at the same time. The good news is you can learn how to live in the moment with a bit of practice.

Why Focus on Living in the Moment?

Life is just a series of moments, one after another – here for a second, then gone the next. When we are children, every moment seems exciting and full of wonderful possibilities. We might fall down trying to ride a bike, or hate spinach, but in general, we are full of joy as we watch things unfold.

However, by the time we get to school age, our days start to become determined more and more by a fixed timetable of where we should be and what we should be doing. The time for spontaneity decreases as stress increases. We worry about working hard so we can get good grades and have a bright future.

We sometimes dwell on things that were difficult in our lives. In fact, we might focus on them so much that it holds us back from the success we deserve. For example, if you kept failing math tests, you would think you were bad at math and that would hold you back. You would be nervous at every test and this could make you almost sabotage yourself because of your expectations of failure.

As adults, the tendency to worry about the future and dwell on the past can become even more pronounced, preventing us from enjoying the good things in life. We get a job, have a family, and start to live on autopilot, while all the time feeling that there has to be more to life. Well, there is. It’s called living in the moment.

Enjoying the Here and Now

Living in the moment might sound “new age” or irresponsible, but it is actually a valuable life skill that can help you in your career, with your relationships, and more. It improves concentration because you are focusing on one thing, not trying to multitask.

It improves relationships because you are truly paying attention to what your family, friends and loved ones are saying, without an automatic, “Uh hunh.”

We still set priorities and go for our goals, but living in the moment, and what is termed mindfulness meditation, now become part of our daily routine. For a few minutes each day, we tune into our thoughts and observe them without judging or getting caught up in them. This is usually best done sitting down, in the morning and evening.

Throughout the day, whenever we wish, we can also become mindful of an action we are doing, such as washing the dishes. We enjoy the experience by noting what each of our senses is telling us. This makes us more focused and less stressed. We can recharge and renew. We let go of the past we can’t change and the future we can’t control, and allow ourselves to be a human being – not a “human doing” racing from one task to the next.

This allows you to feel more enjoyment from life, grounding you and making you feel more peaceful and alive. You will feel less anxious and fearful and more in command of your own life. You can give yourself permission to play and have fun.

Living in the moment through mindfulness can transform your outlook and relationships. Try it and see what a difference it can make to your life.

I would love to hear your thoughts.  Do you “live in the moment?”  How do you practice that?  Share your thoughts in the comments.  Let’s chat!