May 31 2009
Practice Living in the Moment
By spending time in the past or future we are depriving ourselves of the riches of life. Though most people want to benefit from being immersed in the present, this practice requires discipline. It requires training our minds to be more focused.
Natural Thought Patterns
Have you ever noticed that your mind focuses more on the past or future rather than what’s happening in that moment? Do you have a tendency to rehash something you’ve said or done in the past by questioning your actions when it’s too late? Do you find yourself worrying about things like the outcome of a job interview or whether you’ll have enough money to pay the bills? It’s natural to have these thoughts and to plan accordingly, but a real waste of energy to dwell on what’s out of your control.
“True mastery can be gained
By letting things go their own way.
It can’t be gained by interfering.”
Goals help us to continually grow and improve but we have to trust in universal energy and that the outcome will not always be what we expect. It’s important to learn from the past and focus on events as personal growth experience rather mistakes. The words mistake” or “error have a negative connotation. Mel Schwartz discusses the fears people have of making mistakes or errors in his article:
http://www.melschwartz.com/articles/What%20is%20a%20Mistake.pdf
It’s interesting to read that the Wikipedia definition of the word error states that an error occurs when someone is distracted by something else. By living in the moment we are disciplining ourselves to avoid distractions; however, these discretions are a natural part of our human nature and personal growth. Therefore living in the moment is an ongoing practice.
A Restless Mind
Half listening is not living in the moment. We will miss important information and the essence of a conversation if we give in to a restless mind. Children are great at knowing when parents are half listening, and it’s critical to show them and others that we are excited about sharing. This does not mean that we should allow someone else to control a conversation. Part of our personal development is to be forthright and honest with others.
One of the reasons our thoughts drift frequently is because of our preoccupation with worry and fear. “Most people spend their days in internal monologues of worry, future plans, and self-criticism.”1 Society plays on our fears through news, advertisements and media. “Throughout history, large sections of society have come to share certain fears, creating a level of concern far out of proportion with the actual threat. Sociologists call such fears “moral panics.”
It is not until we are able to face our fears with courage and honesty that we will learn to understand what it really means to live right now. It is at this moment that we feel a deep satisfaction and appreciation for the people in our lives and what we see, hear, smell, feel and taste in the moment. We feel a deeper level of compassion for the world and are thankful for life—and we learn to live based on our spiritual beliefs and faith.
Tips for Living in the Moment
Nature Walks
Ever find yourself on a walk in the woods and your mind is obsessing on a problem that occurred that day. Take a walk in the woods and let yourself experience what’s around you. Listen to the crack of twigs under foot, the rich aroma of the pine sap, or the sounds of a hawk screeching from a nearby tree top. Part of the discipline is to recognize when the mind is restless and then start living in the moment.
Conversations
Promise to offer someone your undivided attention in a conversation. When we stay focused in the moment we can observe their body language and the tone and words being conveyed. Our observations will help us to understand the person more deeply and provide us with a sense of rhythm in the language.
Look, and it can be seen.
Listen, and it can be heard.
Reach, and it can be grasped.
If someone is controlling the conversation, then find the right time to excuse yourself based on the rhythm of the dialogue. They will need to take a breath—even if it’s a short gasp.
