When life gets you down, get up again. An introduction to living in the now

“Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.” - Wayne Dyer

I love that quote from Wayne Dyer. Pretty powerful stuff, isn't it? Right now, this very moment is the one we are given. The past is over. We don't know exactly how the future will turn out (hello global pandemic!). Learning to live in the present moment gives you the power to live your best life, to the fullest, every moment of the day.

What does “living in the now” mean?

To live in the moment, or to live in the now, means you are being as close to fully conscious and aware of your present, using all your senses. It means you aren’t thinking about the past, worrying about the future or distracted by your surroundings.

When you concentrate on being present, you focus your attention on the task at hand. You give it your full attention and let go of the outcome. Seizing the moment allows you to make each moment more meaningful and valuable.

That's not to say it's a negative thing to look back into the past or look into the future! You still need to plan, set goals, and do your best to prepare for what's coming up next (or after that). But you can do all these things and still enjoy living in the moment. For instance, you may set a goal to exercise every day. As part of your daily routine, by reducing the distractions and being able to focus on your workout, you will likely get better results and enjoy what you are doing. Sound easy? Or easier said than done?

Photo by Fortune Vieyra on Unsplash

Too often we put enormous expectations on ourselves. We ping from task to task, half thinking about what's next, distracting ourselves with 'busy work' or our devices instead of enjoying the process. We’re rushing and we don’t even know why most of the time. 

Or, we don’t stop and think about where we are, so we miss the point of being there.

When we start living in the now, we learn to appreciate each moment and gather the lessons from each moment. We are living consciously, purposefully, and responsibly.

On the other hand, when we live in the past, hanging onto painful experiences and wrongs we perceived done to us, we are condemning ourselves to living the same now and in the future. Coming to terms with the past, learning from it, but knowing you cannot change it, can help you move on.

Living in the now means letting go of the past. Forgiving yourself and having gratitude for where you have come from. It also means you trust in the future. You’re positive and optimistic in the present leaving you open to the possibility of a promising future.

The power of living in the now allows you to begin to notice the beauty and wonder of the moment and the things around you. You learn how to focus and manage your energy. This is just one of the benefits of living in the now.

In the upcoming articles, we'll discover that there are a multitude of benefits to practicing mindfulness and living in the now. It’s not necessarily as easy as just saying we're going to just 'live in the moment from now on'. But with practice and some simple techniques in our arsenal, it isn’t as difficult as you may believe either. Together, we can begin living a more mindful life.

I hope you've enjoyed this post. Until next time, much love,