Have you ever heard of this phrase, “Body present; absent minded”? Well, I believe you have. It’s a popular expression people use to denote that someone is physically present at a place but his thoughts are miles away. You probably have been in a conversation or a gathering where you kept nodding and ‘hmming’ to all that was being said, until a question is thrown at you and you realize that, unwittingly, your thoughts had drifted from that moment to another moment in the past or the future.
This also creeps into our relationship with God. We go in before Him to worship, but our thoughts and feelings are running after something or someone else. So we lose the beauty of worshipping in His Presence and beholding His glory.
Living in a fast-paced world, and with lots of things and activities calling our attention, it’s quite easy to lose consciousness of present engagements. A lot of us have lost the beauty of living in the moment; enjoying and appreciating the beauty, the miracle, and the lessons each day and each moment brings. This happens because we have got our mind continue on its endless swing from the past to the future. We have been unable to control our mental endless chatter. So we are robbed of the magic of living in each moment.
Living in the present means fully engaging with the current moment rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. It’s about paying attention to your thoughts, your feelings and your surroundings objectively.
A couple of weeks ago, I had felt like a house owner sitting outside his house and wondering what those endless disturbing incoherent chatter filtering out through the windows were and who those were in there; yet unable to step in there and establish some order. So I found myself floating through each day. Until I could bear it no more. So I returned from work one day, grabbed my diary and a pen, and sat down on the floor of my living room. Then I unlocked the door of my mind and shut myself in.
And the moment I got in there, the unexpected happened. Everywhere became quiet and blank. The thoughts went into hiding. But as I stayed, they began to step out one after the other. And I was able to capture them in my book and order them in the direction I wanted them to go.
So, living in the moment is being aware of the current happenings – in our thoughts, in our feelings, and in our surroundings. It is living in the here and now. We cannot truly claim to be living if our minds continue to dwell in the pains of the past or the worries of the future.
Why Live in the Moment?
Studies have shown that living in the moment can reduce our stress level. This is because the anxieties of tomorrow tends to fade away as we focus on the now.
Also, we experience an improved relationship focusing on the beauty of the moment. We are able to appreciate the feelings of connectedness – with God and with people. We are able to observe the fleeting expressions on the faces of others, dig into their heart to understand the sometimes unspoken messages wrapped within their words and the rhythm of their voices.
And just as our relationship with ourselves and with others improves, we tend to experience an increased happiness focusing on the beauty of each moment. We come to understand that we can be happy NOW, rather than tieing our happiness to something in the future.
How Can We Live in the Moment?
Concentrate on the task at hand, whether it’s a conversation, a meal or a hobby. Learn to fully absorb the joy and happiness that come with each time you have to spend with loved ones. Because, the truth remains that life is a current that will never cease moving; and each time lost can never be regained. This anonymous quote I just came across succinctly captures it all: “Enjoy every moment you have. Because in life, there are no rewinds, only flashbacks. Make sure it’s all worth it.”
Secondly, practice gratitude journaling. Make out time each day or week to write down things you’re grateful for. This will improve your sense of appreciation for life and for the things you have.
Finally, learn to unplug from the glamour of technology and its distractions; the incessant notifications. Take a walk if you need to. Make out time for quiet meditations.
Live Mindfully.
Rather than being mind full, chose to be mindful of the present. Take conscious steps each day, doing simple things consciously. Tame the endless chatter in your mind and chose to appreciate the beauty or lessons each moment brings.
Practice mindfulness in even the little things like eating. Learn to savour and appreciate the taste and colour of the food. As you commute from place to place or do your chores, observe the little details around you.
Finally, I will like to end with this beautiful quote by Maya Angelou: “If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present…Gratefully.”
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