Saturday, May 26, 2018

Wherever

“Wherever you are, be there. If you can be fully present now, you’ll know what it means to live.”  (Steve Goodier)

If you were told you only had several hours to live, what would you do with the precious time you had left? When your life exists with mindfulness, you will lead a fuller life and appreciate the beauty in every second of the day. Being more conscious of life as it happens may seem contradictory to those who are used to giving up living for pursuit of getting more.

Regularly adding mindfulness to your existence will help you enjoy life more.  You're more productive when you're mindful. Being mentally present  is the only way to enjoy life to its fullest. By being mindful, you enjoy food, friends, and family more. Even things you might think are boring can be amazing if you are truly present.  Learn how to live mindfulness with the ideas below:

1.   Don’t worry: It’s much harder than it sounds, but remember that worrying today won’t change what happens tomorrow. Every second you spend in worry about the future is a second of the present wasted. Because worrying takes you out of this moment and transports you into the realm of future possibilities, it's impossible to live in the moment and worry at the same time.

If circumstances are troubling, focus on ways you can solve an existing problem by improving the current moment. Spending time focused on what may happen in the future robs you of fully experiencing what is happening now. Life in the moment moves quickly so don’t miss it.

2.   Focus on the now: In order to live in the moment, you need to focus on the now. Focus on what you’re doing. Shut off the TV, turn off the computer, slow down, and savor the present. Living for the moment by practicing mindfulness reduces stress, boosts your immune system, lowers blood pressure, and has other beneficial physical and mental effects.

Mindful people are more secure, have higher self-esteem, and are happier. Savoring and relishing life in the moment elicits happiness and other positive emotions.

3.   Give thanks: Be thankful. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? But it isn’t always. It doesn’t have to be Thanksgiving for you to feel grateful and express that gratitude. Every now and then, remember to stop and take stock of just how good you have it. When you think it or feel it, say it right then. Live in the moment by expressing your gratitude when you feel it.

 
4.   Pay attention to the small things: Notice the world around you: Be thankful for t: the small things. Taking notice of the small things will help you cultivate more positive experiences. Pay attention to the little things that make you happy, as these things can make a huge difference in how you feel.
 

5.   Perform random acts of kindness: Random acts of kindness, those selfless acts that help others, help you live for the moment of making others smile, and making you smile as well. Random acts of kindness are just that random. They are spontaneous, in the moment, and a great addition to your daily life.

One of the easiest lessons for how to live in the moment is to do something for someone else without expecting anything in return. It not only helps you live in the moment, but improves that moment for you and someone else.

6.   Smile: If you want to know how to live in the moment, you just have to take a look in the mirror and smile. Smiling can influence how you feel. There is an association in our mind between how we feel and how we react. If we feel happy, we smile. If we smile, it makes us feel happy. Our face communicates our state of mind to others and to ourselves. So smile it will make you happier and help you appreciate life in the moment.

 “Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t).” (James Baraz)[i]



[i] Sources used:
·        “11 Easy Ways You Can Fit Mindfulness into Your Busy Life” by Leo Babauta
·        “6 Ways to Live in the Moment” by E.C. LaMeaux
 

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