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Very early on in life, I’ve learned to simply live in the present moment of ‘now’ – meaningfully inhabiting the current moment, slowing down and paying attention to everything around me. Especially when it comes to being in the presence of loved ones and others who are talking to me. I guess it’s my upbringing. I was definitely brought up in a different society, where respect was paramount when it comes to making eye contact while intently listening to someone talking to you. So the habit of staring at your phone screen while others are talking to you is completely foreign to me and one of my biggest pet peeves. Call me old-fashioned but it’s one of those things I find extremely rude. It’s a no-no for me. The other thing I never understand is the constant rush to Friday or to a particular season to ‘begin to live’. Tomorrow or even the next moment is not promised to anyone. Each day, each moment is a gift – a new opportunity to live, to enjoy and to appreciate life. I’m not going to lie, there are times I find if I’m not careful it can be easy to fall into that “rush rush” mindset and adopt these unhealthy habits myself. Thus, the reason, I like to write down these reminders for reference.
To be honest, I totally get the reasons why so many of us want to get to Friday and/or our favorite season quickly. No one enjoys being in a situation where you don’t feel happy, so I get the desire to get to that one day, season or whatever else where we can get a reprieve and feel relaxed. Personally, I disdain summer only because I now live in a place where the sun literally scorches your skin off your bones, and unless you become a hermit (which is torture for a social explorer like myself), during the summer season I tend to find myself wanting for my favorite seasons to come quickly or a getaway to look forward to or even worse, for life to end to escape the pain of the heat.
Thankfully, we do travel to cooler places during the summer months which I’m so grateful for. Having said that, even in those worst moments, I try to remind myself how fortunate I am to even have the means to be able to go indoors with air conditioning compared to so many who only wish for what may seem a simple luxury we take for granted. Thus for me and those who might agree, I wanted to share these quick reminders of 5 ways to live in the present and stop rushing through life:
1. Let Go of the Inner Rush. It allows us to experience higher states, like joy, connection, and love. It takes courage to live inside the moment. But that only happens when we slow down and find inner stillness.
2. Live in The “Now.” Learn to be present in the present. Determine to enjoy each day and the little things. And when the urge to run on to the next feeling comes rushing through – it’s good to remember that life is fragile and unpredictable and each day is a gift, not a given right.
3. Take a Minute and Just Chill. Take a few moments each day to meditate and reset your thoughts. Think of it like rebooting your computer, so it can work properly again. This will help calm worrisome thoughts, release negative feelings and help to regain your emotional strength.
4. Maintain a Healthy Mind and Imagination. I find stimulating my mind and imagination helps to calm me down when I feel frazzled. Sometimes just pulling away from the “daily-ness” of life – what I call taking ‘a mental health day’, replenishes my soul. I find that thumbing through favorite magazines that inspire me reignites my passions and helps to transport me to another time and place. It could also be watching a favorite movie while having my favorite drink and favorite candles on. Each person is obviously different, so you would have to determine what would work for you.
5. Disconnect and Detox. Simply put the phone down and take a walk. I’m always amazed at how revitalized I feel every time I force myself to get out and take a walk. There’s nothing like spending time in the great outdoors to awaken and stimulate the senses. Nature is designed to put all of life’s problems into perspective because it quiets the mind bringing tranquility and peace.
At the end of 2019, I re-established an old goal of not picking up my phone first thing in the morning to read emails, the news, texts, or get on social media for at least the first hour of my day. I can’t think of a healthier first move to living in the present, nourishing the mind and wasting less time. After all, why rush through our fleeting days in life when it’s so limited?
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