“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
Tyna_C says
I started following your blog because I wanted to clean out my office and my closet. After reading your materials for a few weeks, I’ve come to realize that I haven’t been successful in my decluttering efforts because I’ve always focused on the external organizing of stuff. This post is an example of the holistic nature of minimalism. It’s about our approach to life and how we choose to look at things. One of my favorite quotes is from Wayne Dyer, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” I can have the same job and choose to look at the glass empty or full. (I’m one of those crazy ones who think that “half full” is on the pessimistic side. :) ) Thanks for the post, and also to all who comment and enrich the blog.
Kathleen says
“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.”
Thank you. That is exactly what I needed to hear today.
Mohd. Faiz kosmi says
Negative thoughts are the reasons of our sadness,weakness and failiars. Negativity has to much power for change the life.It eats our capabilities. It is a large reason of unsuccess.
If we want to success in life,we have to ignore negativity.
So we positive, see positive and talk positive.
.GOD BLESS ALL OF US.
di says
Everything has a positive and a negative. Sad/happy, weak/strong, fail/success. It’s not all or nothing!
B says
Alzheimer’s has multiple stages. Yes it is an illness, however, I have noted that the majority of patients whom are diagnosed in earlier stages tend to learn to appreciate daily life more and let go of harshness and unhappiness……it is not the disease itself speaking but the soul. Living for the now and appreciating life. As the bible teaches as well as many faiths and theorists….be still…
Mohd. Faiz kosmi says
Everything is possible in this word becouse ‘well begun is half done’.you should have faith in yourself and strong will power to achieve success.
Confidence is the key of all success..
di says
I’m not confident, but I succeed.
Elizabeth says
Today was an eye opener. Every time I look at my stuffed garage I think of you Joshua! Today JUNE 1 I had a garage sale and because I prepared it on my own (no kids and hubby around) I felt I was more ruthless in the purging. From seasonal decorations to clothing I thought I would never part with, I was to the point of embarrassment of how much was on my driveway. I have lost count over the years of how many times I have loaded my van with donations to drop off at charity. At the end of the sale I had so much for donation it was filled in my big truck bed and boxes in the back seat. A month ago I donated 6 boxes the size of banana boxes to charity. Where does it come from ?? I do have two young children and a home based playschool, so to get to the root of it, most of it comes from those two sources. We don’t live with all the gadgets in the kitchen or entertainment, we don’t buy a lot of clothes, I have two handbags and a couple of pairs of dress shoes. My kids are not picky about clothes and we shop for decent items at the thrift store. I am still searching deeply for the root causes, there are so many layers ——– but it IS SO liberating to JUST LET GO!
Thank you for all your inspiration!
di says
A .25¢ sale is quite expedient.
Laurel says
“I am still searching deeply for the root causes, there are so many layers”
True. Perhaps it is a reaction to early trauma?
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/talking-about-trauma/201306/hoarding-reaction-trauma
Cora says
This short but deep post has been inspiring & thought provoking ! It’s going to be printed out and put on my wall for a while til i memorize it :p
Momof3n2 says
All I am going to say is WOW! Eye opener.
Rail Review says
Fantastic advice here, living in the present really is the key to happiness. Many people dwell on past failures or successes, or spend their lives worrying about what tomorrow will bring. In a way, living for the future is a consequence of our education system – it’s constantly drilled into kids that “you must pass your exams” otherwise your life will suck. We should try teaching our kids to just live for the moment instead.
di says
There’s nothing wrong with thinking about the past or the future. Just because you think of another time doesn’t mean you’re not here now.
I’m still here right now, at the present time, and this is my moment to reflect and ponder about anything I please!
Linda says
He never says not to think of the past or the future. Most of us have fond childhood memories, we love to share with others. And it is good to set goals for the future. He even says to set goals! But we should not dwell in the past or the future. That is the difference. THAT is unhealthy. It steals from the present.
Partha says
Great information, worth reading as well as sharing!!
Jeffrey Jackson says
I am reading it Now as I type. Have not put it down since I picked it up. What a revelation
di says
Unrealistic…