“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”
One of the best, unforeseen consequences of simplifying our lives is it has allowed us to begin living our lives in the present moment.
Eliminating nonessential possessions has freed us from many of the emotions associated with past lives that were keeping us stuck. And clearing our home has allowed us the freedom to shape our lives today around our most important values.
Living in the present moment means no longer worrying about what happened in the past and not fearing what will happen in the future. It means enjoying what’s happening now and living for today.
Choosing to live in the past or the future not only robs you of enjoyment today, but it also robs you of truly living. The only important moment is the present moment.
With that goal in mind, consider this list of ten tips below on how to live in the moment.
How Do You Live in the Moment?
1. Remove unneeded possessions
Minimalism forces you to live in the present. Removing items associated with past memories frees you and allows you to stop living in the past. Once the past no longer has power, you can begin to live in the moment.
2. Smile
Each day is full of endless possibilities! Start it with a smile. You are in control of your attitude every morning, keep it optimistic and expectant. Be intentional about it and you’ll find yourself doing it every day without even realizing it.
3. Fully appreciate the moments of today
Soak in as much of today as you possibly can – the sights, the sounds, the smells, the emotions, the triumph, and the sorrow. These are in our daily lives but we often forget to take them in and truly appreciate them.
4. Forgive past hurts
If you are harboring resentment towards another human being because of past hurts, choose to forgive and move on. The harm was their fault, but allowing it to impact your mood today is yours. Let go and choose to be present
If you just “survive” the workweek constantly waiting for the next weekend “to get here,” you are wasting 71% of your life (5/7 days.) There are two solutions: find a new job that you actually enjoy, or find something that you appreciate about your current career.
6. Dream about the future, but work hard today
Dream big. Set goals and plans for the future. But working hard today is always the first step towards realizing your dreams tomorrow. Don’t allow dreaming about tomorrow to replace living in the moment. Dreaming about the future is only productive when combined with
7. Don’t dwell on past accomplishments
If you are still talking about what you did yesterday, you haven’t done much today. There is still plenty of time to build upon past successes and create more memories and achievements for future-you. In the future, you’ll be cherishing the memories of today.
8. Stop worrying
You can’t fully appreciate today if you worry too much about tomorrow. Realize that tomorrow is going to happen whether you worry about it or not. And since worry has never accomplished anything for anybody, redirect your mental energy elsewhere.
9. Think beyond old solutions to problems
Our world is changing so fast that most of yesterday’s solutions are no longer the right answers today. Don’t get locked into a “but that’s how we’ve always done it” mentality. Yesterday’s solutions are not today’s solutions and they are certainly not tomorrow’s solutions.
10. Conquer addictions
Addictions in your life hold you hostage. They keep you from living a completely free life and removes your focus from the moment. Find some help. Take the steps. And remove their influence over your life. Allow yourself to live in the moment addiction-free.
Learning how to live in the present moment is an essential ingredient in a happy life.
If you can only live one moment at a time, you might as well make it the present.
***
Further Reading
How to Enjoy a Life You Don’t Need to Escape From
sajeev says
Read eckhart tolle THE POWER OF NOW” gives you bliss in your life.
di says
It’s impossible to only think of now.
We’re human…
Brett says
I love #1–I know the whole get rid of stuff you don’t need thing, but I do hold on to little ‘souvenirs of my past.’ I finally gave away a couple of boxes of theology books to a pastor who lost his library in a tornado. I’m sure my books were a bit out of date, and I’m an insurance man, so I know pastors have funds typically specifically for their libraries. It was something i needed to do for some reason to let go.
di says
Giving things away to someone that appreciates them always helps.
Motyar says
Want to add 0. Be mindful and see the things around you.
Good list btw.
di says
Watch the traffic –
Siddhartha Bordoloi says
Yeah! Living in the NOW is the master key through which one can unlock the secrets of abounding happiness. A person who is not burdened with the regrets of the past and the worries of the future is bound to attain consciousness, thereby experiencing infinite bliss, peace and calmness.
di says
It’s impossible to be without regret, worry or sadness.
We’re human…
Ethelle Lord says
Individuals living with Alzheimer’s teach us how to live in the present.
Dr. Ethelle Lord
http://remembering4you.com
Pioneers in Alzheimer’s Coaching
di says
They’re not really living…
di says
They’re ill.
other offers says
Good job making it appear easy.
testosterone says
That kind of thinking shows you’re an expert
Laurel says
Said by an ‘expert’.
Vishal Bhatt says
Great article, since morning I have been swinging in to the past and was worrying about future, really changed my mood after reading this article, thanks man :)
em says
im confused on one thing, it says to remove things associated with the past to free us now, and i have believed in this theory but have also found negatives in it such as i have given away alot of clothes but it hurts when i cant wear something that i love because it reminds me of past, and then some people say u should just work through it, and also what if u are living the present but then u have to go and move back somewhere that may remind u of the past, what then, should u not do it, but what if u have love for the place and it has alot of positives should we not go for it to instead dissociate with the past as much as possible? im sick of the effort involved in running from the past but i so desperatly want my freedom of today. someone pls help!!
Arbe says
You’re capable of finding the answers to your questions from within. Trust yourself. Try seeing the list as suggestions, not commandments. Is measuring yourself by someone else’s yardstick really the way to liberation?
di says
There is a positive and negative to everything. Only you can choose what you want to focus on.
kittu sharma says
Dear All,
i think life is not like dat what we want life is go by its own way . u know i am dat kind kindof person who want to live happy in all condition that may be good or bad i want to makes happy all but i cant help it yr dont know i am living my life or just keep going where life want to take me please advise
swaminathan p c h says
living present is a good theory & philosophy. ok. but the problem is the wandering mind. how to be still without the past and future? how to engage the mind in the present moment , with the “0” level influence of past and future.?
di says
Embrace it all!
Ritesh Thyaram says
i learnt that living in the present moment is gods greatest gift to man and women.to be present means to be aware and focused on your thoughts and be centred in what ever we do in the present moment.present…means…this moment is a gift that we should treasure and embrace and enjoy.feel exalted and see the magic and joy that each moment brings to our human expierence.love it…treasure it and let it be.a gitf to you…………………..thank you…
di says
Focusing on either the present, past or future is okay…
di says
A magical and joyful exaltation is your illusion…
Bazil says
Most of us know what we have to do… but still we wait for something to happen. If only one puts all these in practise, LIFE IS WORTH LIVING…enjoying every bit of it.
di says
Life is only worth living if we put all these into practice?
I don’t want to discard my possessions. I don’t smile every day. I don’t appreciate every moment. I can only forgive certain behaviors. I don’t always love my job. I realistically plan for my future. I don’t always work hard. I think often of my past accomplishments as well as my future endeavors. I still worry. Every problem is different and so is the solution. I enjoy some of my addictions.
Confusion says
Me too
di says
Be real!
kittu sharma says
Dear All,
i think life is not like dat what we want life is go by its own way . u know i am dat kind kindof person who want to live happy in all condition that may be good or bad i want to makes happy all but i cant help it yr dont know i am living my life or just keep going where life want to take me please advise