In order to live in the present moment, you need to be able to discipline your mind, become aware of the incessant conversations in which your mind engages, and stop the habitual and mindless thinking that takes you back to the past or into the future.
During the day, people’s minds constantly race. Thoughts wander aimlessly and many are oblivious as to where they really place their thoughts. Some people let their thoughts wander around in the past, some in the future, and some in the present moment.
When you are in the midst of the rubble created by the dissolution of your marriage, it is unlikely that you are placing your thoughts in the present moment. You may be too focused on what was (the past) or what will be (the future).
The area in which you place your thoughts, either consciously or unconsciously, is the area that becomes important to you. What you focus on – the past, the present or the future – will inevitably blossom for you and you only.
When you place your thoughts in the past, days that have already been lived become the theme of your life. You rely on your past experiences to be the reference point for each new experience. Your life is an echo from days long gone and you have become predictable and inflexible.
When you place your thoughts in the future, your expectations for days yet to be lived become the focal point of your life; your reference point for each new experience is the result that you want to occur. Your life is lived in the realm of expectations and that can sometimes cause you to feel anxious and like you need to be in full control.
Whenever you place your thoughts in the past or the future, you forgo the present moment. The present moment is where self-growth occurs. You cannot move forward in your life unless you are focused on the present. Residing in the past or the future prevents you from becoming your highest self.
Where does your mind reside? Do you place your thoughts in the past, the present or the future? If you lack the awareness to know where your thoughts reside, let your emotions guide you.
If you experience guilt, resentment, bitterness, regret, or can’t seem to find it in your heart to forgive, your thoughts are chained to the past. If you experience anxiety, stress, uneasiness, tension, or worry, your thoughts are lost in the future.
Your emotions arouse only two sensations – pain and pleasure – and these sensations are felt in the present. When you experience pleasure in the present moment, you feel it as joy. When you experience pain in the present moment, you feel it as hurt.
Allow yourself to feel your joy or your hurt. Do not ignore or suppress these emotions. Connect with your body and feel the sensations associated with your joy and hurt. Allow yourself to become aware of your how you feel, then just let it all go.
In order to live in the present moment, you need to be able to discipline your mind, become aware of the incessant conversations in which your mind engages, and stop the habitual and mindless thinking that takes you back to the past or into the future.
When you live in the present moment, you awake each day with enthusiasm, excitement and a willingness to step into the unknown. You are not crippled by past experiences nor do you have an agenda of desired expectations. Each moment is open to all possibilities. This is home to originality, freshness, and openness. This is the place that allows you to grow and become your best self.
Some people think that to live in the present moment means to forget the past and the future. That is not so. When your mind is disciplined, you can freely visit the past or the future any time you want and retrieve whatever is required from the past or project whatever is necessary into the future. You do this without the drama and emotional entanglements of an undisciplined mind.
When you live in the present moment, you are mindful of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Anyone who justifies irresponsible behavior with the phrase “living in the moment” is using the phrase to evade personal responsibility. He or she hasn’t a clue as to what it truly means to be present in the moment. Irresponsible behavior is the result of mindlessness.
When you resist the present moment – whenever you want things to be different from what they are – you inevitably suffer. Release yourself from the chains of your past. The past is gone; it cannot be changed. Do not fret about your future. The future never arrives; it is not guaranteed.
If you truly want to move forward in your life, you need to be mindful of the present. Lose yourself in the moment and feel the child within you come alive. View the world with wonder and appreciate the beauty that surrounds you. Be attentive to your life as it unfolds before you and remember to embrace the present moment.
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