“The future is yet to come. The present is but a fleeting moment. All else is history.” ~a history professor from my undergrad years who’s name I forget
You hear the term from time to time. “Live in the moment.” You hear statements about being mindful. It sounds like it’s somewhere between psychobabble and something worth paying attention to, but which one is it?
Let’s take a look at what it actually means to live in the moment, and how it applies to your daily life.
My old history professor was actually right, but he was referring to the vastness of history. It encompasses everything that has happened throughout time, and by the time you read this, it’s history.
What Does “In The Moment” Mean?
Being in the moment is a way to bring your focus to the here and now. It’s a way to focus on what you can control. Frankly, it’s a way you can regain your composure and joy for living.
So let’s break down a simple situation. You have a job interview coming up. What type of thoughts might be running through your head?
- “I bombed my last interview!”
- “I don’t have the skills they’re looking for.”
- “My bills have gotten so high that I don’t know what I’ll do if I don’t land this job.”
- “I don’t have the type clothes to impress these guys.”
- “My resume isn’t as polished as it should be.”
- “Do I have enough money for tacos after the interview?”
Okay, you get the point.
All of these situations have one thing in common. They aren’t relevant to this very moment.
Each of these statements focuses on either the past (a prior bad interview, accumulated bills, a resume already printed) or the future (you haven’t met them yet to know exactly what skills matter, or what the dress code is).
And frankly, there’s always money for tacos, but that’s not important now.
What matters is your mindset here and now, filtering out all those other issues. Okay, easier said than done, right?
How to Get in the Moment
The term commonly used is “Mindfulness.” It’s a great term to throw out there, but what exactly does it mean? It means you focus on the here and now, and you filter out the past (events that have happened) and future (events that have yet to happen). Mindfulness doesn’t require any judgment. You simply observe the moment as it is, without assigning anything as “good” or “bad.” Simply focus your mind on your thoughts without criticizing yourself.
It’s extremely useful if you’re upset about a past situation or nervous about an upcoming one. If it’s in the past, it’s done. Nothing you do will change it. If it’s in the future, it hasn’t happened yet, and unless you’re a fortune teller, you really don’t know what’s going to happen. How do you do it?
There’s a few different ways, but we’ll focus on the easiest way. Oh, and here’s the best part: it’s Free. As in, you don’t need a yoga mat, an instructor, an expensive app, or a special book or device.
The commonly used focus point for being in the moment is the breath. It’s the first thing we do in life, and it’s the last thing we do in life.
Here’s the ground rules:
- You must still be breathing (that’s important).
- Set a reasonable amount of time. Even 5-7 minutes can make a world of difference.
- Pick a place (in your car, at your desk, on the bed, or even simply sitting on the couch).
- However you position yourself, sit or lie down in a way that you can stay still for the timeframe you’re working with.
What to do (no tricks, I promise):
- Play some music, if you prefer, or simply enjoy the quiet.
- Focus on your breath. Feel the breath as it comes in and goes out.
- Expect the mind to wander. It thinks (since that’s the mind’s job). When you realize it, return to focusing on your breath.
- Don’t judge any thoughts. Just re-focus on your breath.
That’s it. Not too bad, is it?
“Let thoughts come and go. Just don’t serve them tea.” ~Shunryu Suzuki
Practice this simple mindfulness meditation at least once a day. Once you have some experience with it, you can try doing it longer.
The truth is that most of us judge ourselves far more harshly than the world does. We know our every flaw. The idea of being in the moment allows you to break away from those negative thoughts based on the past or an unknown future, and simply focusing on simply being. Being here, being alive, and being the beautiful soul that you are.
Try this for a week. There are apps out there if you want guided meditations (many are free), or you can simply sit and breathe. It’s up to you.
Drop a comment and let us know how it goes for you.
