“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 consequence of simplifying our lives is it has allowed us to begin living our lives in the present. 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.
Choosing to live in the past or the future not only robs you of enjoyment today, it 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 to start living your life in the present:
1. Remove unneeded possessions. Minimalism forces you to live in the present. Removing items associated with past memories or lives frees us up to stop living in the past and start living in the present.
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.
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.
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.
5. Love your job. If you just “survive” the workweek constantly waiting for the next weekend “to get here,” you are wasting 71% of your life (5 out of 7 days). there are two solutions: 1) find a new job that you actually enjoy (it’s out there), or 2) find something that you appreciate about your current career and focus on that rather than the negatives.
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 today.
7. Don’t dwell on past accomplishments. If you are still talking about what you did yesterday, you haven’t done much 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 today. Find some help. Take the steps. And remove their influence over your life.
If you can only live one moment at a time, you might as well make it the present.
simon carter says
January 16, 2016 at 10:19 AMHi my names Simon I’ve struggled with drug addiction for more than 20 years until recently when I read a book called the power of Now which opened my eyes and I started putting it into practice,not easy at first to grasp the concept but read it three times over for it to really understand it. We can only be truly happy by living in the present moment there is no other time than the now.
Ken O. says
April 28, 2016 at 8:03 PMSimon, Power of Now is a great book. I am smiling.
Younger The Elder says
January 24, 2016 at 2:48 PMWhy would I wanna live in the present when you can’t eat what you want, can’t smoke, can’t do anything.
Noor says
February 8, 2016 at 4:29 PMTo live in present is not an easy job specially for one who is living same life everyday same food everyday no friends no outing nothing new or courageous
Well bit only a hope n strong will power to change the mind n soul can bring change
It’s not easy when u lost ur love ur family ur friends
Well God bless us all
Cecelia says
April 13, 2017 at 1:13 AMI have felt the same way as you Noor. It’s not easy but
each morning I wake up I do something different. I am here for
a reason yes my loved one’s may have passed away along with
many friends and family member . I try not to focus on them
Because it will make me sad so I smile and say I am enough!
Corey Devin Perich says
March 24, 2016 at 10:51 PMWe live life in dreams of love
What is we are that truth above
Not what was, as it may seem
Love life here now and live the dream
M. Bond says
March 22, 2017 at 9:42 AMGreat advice! The trick is staying focused! If we can concur that we’ve got it made! Working on it!
M. Bond ????
Anonymous says
May 3, 2016 at 1:22 AMThanks so much for this post. It really helped me emotionally especially in my love life. When my bf said this I thought that was all coupled with different thoughts and advice from people even thou I sort of have a positive side towards it but just couldn’t help but to dwell more on the negative. While trying to deal with the situation I stormed on this link. Read through n saved it on my phone as a reminder every morning. Its been helpful and all I am doing now is living in the present,enjoying,loving and appreciating myself more.
Mel says
July 21, 2016 at 5:18 AMI have realized that I can’t take action yesterday and I can’t take action tomorrow but I can take action today. I recommend literature about the teachings of Gautama “Buddha”. Just my opinion.
Pure says
July 24, 2016 at 8:25 AMWhy not dwell or at least remind oneself of past accomplishments from time to time? It promotes self confidence and positivity, especially when feeling insecure and needing strength. Not understanding this one.
Cheri Joiner says
July 24, 2016 at 9:47 AMThis inspired me but depressed me too. I am in a difficult place right now and have issues with most of your points. #1. I am embracing this and requiring it of everyone in my household. #2. Ok with this as happy moments catch me off guard especially around my grandchildren. #3. Have problems with this as the past has such a hold on me. #4. I have wasted the past 14 years unable to forgive or move forward after my divorce. #4. I have no job due to a injury on the job in 2003. #5 & 6. Looking toward the future is impossible. I don’t see a future of possibilities. Can’t work, can’t enjoy anything that I used to enjoy. There is no joy and don’t see any prospects. #6. Past accomplishments are all I have. #8. Don’t really worry. I’m numb. See no future, No worries. #9. Solutions, I dream about them but there’s always an unrealistic theme where someone comes to the rescue #10. Addictions, cigarettes, pain medicine. Working on the first, debating the second.
So, you see, I’m stuck. Waiting for disability to be approved, depending on daughter for support, spend days, weeks in bed sleeping or just starring at walls, try to make myself get up to just move to a living room chair doing more of the same. Daydream about going to sleep and never waking up. Removing myself as a burden for everyone. Don’t worry, I’d never put my family through that. I do read, a lot. Posts like this which helps me focus and see more clearly what’s wrong just can’t see how to fix. Thanks for the article, it’s the first time I’ve put into words and actually written them down. Maybe a journal would be helpful. I’ve always been able to write better to express myself. Good luck in your endeavors and please keep these articles coming. They help me hold on.
Sincerely,
CJ
RhoRho says
October 8, 2016 at 9:31 AMGet rid of things that remind you of your past relationship. Let those things go by giving them away, selling them, or transforming them into something new. Renew your mind and focus on the good. Create new memories to replace the old. I truly understand your pain. Divorce appears to be more painful than death. Letting go of the past is freeing. Make every effort to turn your pain into something creative and profitable to live out your days joyful and triumphant. Try to get off those pain meds asap as this is most likely an added ingredient to your listlessness. Most of all, seek God to restore You from those hurts. ❤️????????????
joe says
February 26, 2017 at 9:32 PMWow.. Almost identical to my life!!
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Haseen says
September 1, 2016 at 6:33 AMGreat article! I totally agree with you. Like if we want to conquer the anxiety of life we should live in the moment, live in the breath.
Bimalendu Nayak says
September 12, 2016 at 8:32 AMThis is an inspiration .I like very much.thanks
Stephen says
October 8, 2016 at 12:51 PMBeing in the moment is an absurd concept. I suppose that if you had a monastic lifestyle where your day is planned for you so that a bell rings to wake you up, another bell for time to eat, and for hours a day blankly staring at a wall or slowly walking from one place to another then being in the now may be somewhat approached. I suppose that such a lifestyle or going on retreats are designed that way. Could you read a book in the now? All the plot, character development and so on would not exist, only the word you were reading, if that. The idea that I started this comment calling being in the now absurd would have been lost to you if you were reading this in the now and any negative reactions to that statement also… gone.
Of course one could say well when I remember something that I am remembering it now and when I write a grocery list for the future use I am doing that in the now also. Of course that means there is no thought action or observation that is not in the now.
What I am guessing people mean by being in the now is to have the focus of attention on the senses, the stream of information from the nervous system from causes outside the body or internally, not from memory or emotions. Even there I doubt this would be a better state of awareness than having the full benefit of associations of memory and emotions, sort of like watching a movie with the sound off.
Taking our lives personally, obsessive dwelling on problems that have no immediate consequence should probably be avoided if possible. Spending time watching you breathing may be some kind of answer, but so would taking a narcotic.
Bert says
January 9, 2017 at 6:35 AMGood article and advice.
I was consumed by genealogy research. I felt I was dwelling in the past constantly thinking about dead relatives I nver met. I found myself looking back… literally… all day long!
K.V.Mahatha says
January 28, 2017 at 3:23 AMsee we are three in home . My daughter never spend time with me. Even my hubbi. always i am in frustration, because there is no value for the truth.. lot of malpractice in my work place . how to be happy
Sherry Lucas says
February 9, 2017 at 6:45 AMReally, REALLY needed this inspiration today! Thank you!
Jodi says
February 9, 2017 at 7:13 AMSo when you say “past lives” it sure can look like you’re talking about reincarnation. . .