When we live in the present moment we are present to what is happening right now. There is no past or future to dwell in. A feeling could arise, a sensation could find expression, a word might come up. We find inspiration for our creative projects or we might find ourselves thinking intently and strategically about a solution to a problem we need to solve.
Mindfulness is not about giving up the thought process and being irresponsible.
It is not about forgetting the past and the future. What counts is making the most out of the resources we have at hand to live in the present moment graciously and peacefully. Finding balance is all this is about.
The present is where life happens, where new ideas flow, where simplicity is found.
Why then it is so difficult to stay in the present moment?
If you tried to meditate and had at least 5 minutes with your mind alone, you might have found how easy it is for the thoughts to follow one after the other. A sound can lead you into thinking about a past experience, the past experience might bring up feelings, the feeling might be bringing the urge to do something about it. Icky, uncomfortable, unpleasant. Let’s face it, when the mind is wandering, it is usually wandering into a dark forest of the past or future.
At the same time, if and when you had some success with meditation and found that the mind can actually be trained to focus on one thing at the time, (be it the breath, a mantra, sensations, etc) you experience more ease in your life. The mind is calmer, it is easier to find solutions to your problems and there is no need to work too hard to live in the moment.
Why is it so important to be mindful and receptive in the here and now?
Besides the health benefits with which science now illuminates us with (see an extensive article on this from Harvard here and from Forbes here), I’d like to focus on its importance in living a life with intention. When the mind is busy with the old or the hypothetical, it cannot create and be fully receptive to intuitions and new ideas.
While I am all about finding balance with all things in life, I do know that the way I want to live my life today is nothing like what I grew up with. It goes against my old beliefs and patterns. In order to change these patterns I need to be open and receptive to new ideas and not let my mind wander and repeat old behaviours.
Find your own motivation.
And it all begins with your values and vision. When you know why this is meaningful to you, you will do anything to implement it. No excuse will resist your inner desire to find more presence.
How do you stay committed to the present moment without losing track of your Essence?
- Connect with your breath to create moments of mindfulness throughout the day. Be it while brushing your teeth or while closing the door of your house, use these little moments to find expansion and awareness in your body.
- Scan your body before going to sleep. Go from your feet to the top of your head by checking in with every part of your body. Be an investigator. Step into that role. Look for sensations and be curious. What is there sitting waiting for you to pay attention to?
- Stop and pay attention to your surroundings throughout the day. Notice things you can see, touch, smell, taste or hear.
- Sit quietly and notice how you feel during down times. Instead of grabbing your phone during these times, try to check in. A feeling will arise inevitably when you connect with your breath. Especially if you have been out of practice in connecting with the present moment.
- Practice single-tasking! Yeap! It might be a term that I just made up but it changes your whole world if you implement it. Practice staying focused on one thing at a time. Too often we are used to multitask and we are encouraged to do so. But try and focus on one thing at a time to see how your concentration and focus will improve. Besides, you will get better at finishing what you started in a shorter amount of time.
- Pause between activities. Self-explanatory, isn’t it? Yet, how easy it is to just jump for one task to the other!?!
- Take a mindful walk. Use your breath to keep you in the present moment. Leave your phone at home. Notice your surroundings. Birds, trees, people. Smile.
- Use your meditation as a way of training your mind and not an activity with an end of its own.
- Check in with your posture. Oftentimes, we find ourselves in the weirdest position, be it in front of the computer, or on the sofa. A spine which is erect invites more alertness and lets energy flow in the body in a nice way.
- Practice acceptance of what is in the present moment. As M. Townsend Williams states in his book “DO breath”, mindfulness can be considered a very challenging and serious process. When we relax and accept that which is, we can find ease in the practice. Accepting our busy minds is the first step to awareness and freedom.
- Learn to relax while practicing. Did you find that the best ideas come to you when you are relaxed? Did you notice that things get done in an easier way when you are able to stay chilled?
- Learn to consciously think about the past or plan for the future without getting into stories. In this way you will be more strategic and you will find new solutions which would not have been there if not paid attention to. Learn your lessons from the past and then let it go.
The present moment is a beautiful place to live in. I hope you give yourself permission to explore it and to dwell in it more often. There is nothing better than a life made of many mindful moments. Each moment will invite the new and will be like breathing fresh air in the morning: rejuvenating and powerful.
Feel like you want to challenge yourself? Here is one for you! Choose one activity and set a small goal in being consistent with its practice. Try to be specific and intentional. Want some inspiration? Read the article on setting small goals and living with intention. Or get in touch to practice together and learn how to be with what is in the here and now, guilt-free.
As usual, share this article with your friends and your accountability buddy! Don’t let life pass by and miss on great experiences.