“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
Hasan Babar says
Very inspirational. I liked this post.
Rona Stokes says
Just transforming life from sorrows and mishaps, to positives. my
Karen Coffey says
Love this read!!!, very inspirational!! My Father always told me to never leave the house without my smile!! Some advice I have practiced my whole life!! Part of my early morning motivations are all your articles!! Thanks Josh
Rona Stokes says
Just transforming life from sorrows and mishaps, to positives.
Desaraju maliķrjun says
If you focus in present your future will be Good at the same time your present becomes past so what I mean to say is live in present, work in present enjoy in present what ever you do actions emotions it should related to present everything is possible.
Sarita Mian says
I t was a great read especially when I myself had written about the same subject. To read your post was something that added more to my wisdom.
What I concluded was the three rules that will help one to focus on Present.
1. Future holds nothing if you do not hold anything for it.
2. Future is not a gift, the Past is not a waste and the Present is never permanent.
3. What you do with your Present, Future will do it for you.
Value what you have, work to make it more valuable and look back on it as your pride memory.
Marcel Spielmann says
I like the comment u have posted. And I also noted you also had written something like the same can I see it
Greg P says
YES, THANK YOU
Fukru Umer says
How to live in present, if present is too painful and you made so many things during depression. That make you feel bad about it today.
Sarita Mian says
“The greatest of all miracles is that we need not be tomorrow what we are today, the greatest of all insights is that we cannot be tomorrow what we do not do today. That is why Today matters”
Jules says
Living in the moment sounds good, our present is forged by our past and will influence our future lives. Sometimes we need to look back to understand how we got here and to heal our present self.
asad imran says
okk great
E says
I agree, everyone says it’s really easy to move forward, and move on, but the past shapes the future. Moving forward is harder then people lead it on to be. It is especially harder because you are dependent on other people and their actions. For example, you move in with someone, and they may decide they do not want you there. Or you may file for something in court, but Covid closes the court and so no action can be taken by the judge. Are you may have signed a document in the past, that you cannot unsign. You may have been set up to be cheated. This may have happened without your awareness of it’s going on.
Lynne says
You can always undo mistakes or choices made. There’s usually a solution for everything.
Sun says
I have been working soo hard these last
Years
Just don’t know where it is going to get
Me
I din’t Think
There is someone
Foreseen it
xx
Stu says
How can you live in the moment, when everything is so bad still. Been in lockdown for 5 months now, see nobody, wish the days away because its so pointless. Try to keep busy but ultimately can’t concentration, and this hole of purposeless and loneliness grows by the day.
Aka says
It is true that we cannot see the end of this but still you can help yourself by reading good books, quality content online (You are here now), excercising or singing to yourself. You can try by small talks at gas station, coffee shop etc. Sometimes it is enough to wish someone a good day….Actualy if you feel like you say you do, I think this is wrong article for you…. Anyway, this will pass. Good luck.
Joyce Walden says
❤️
Joyce Walden says
❤️ great advice. Minimalism article is truth! Freedom to live your real life
Joyce Walden says
Truth
Joyce Walden says
Gives you time to find what you really want. Love others. You reap what you sow
Sarita Mian says
There are times, when your present comes up with a challenging situation that you are not prepared for and the pioneering thought that crops up in such a demanding Present is, Escape.
You turn out to be a newcomer to such a demanding present that longing for a future that can comfort you, is all that you start chasing for.
The problem is not that you are ignorant of how life is lived, what hinders you to still not live in the present, is because your mind is clenched with thoughts of how you wish life to be.
How good it was comparatively from the time now is one aspect that keeps you clung to the past and how bad it was is another that haunts you for life. But then Past was supposed to just take the learning from and not dwell in it.
And when it comes to future, The attribute “desire” to have something that you have not yet had is more powerful than the contentment of having what you desired back then.
This is what keeps you chasing the future.
No mentoring can bring a shift, until and unless you are not shaken by this misleading way of living life.No matter how great a life can turn if you understand and believe the philosophy of living in the present, you still will be captivated by the future and drawn off and on into your past.
Despite the non-existence of the past and future, you will find yourself trapped in them.
And the only reason is, Human minds fail to settle for the things they have!
Bella says
I don’t know what is happening to me. I’ m so depressed about how my future would be. My parents are aged. I’m so sad thinking about a life without my parents. Overthinking kills me. I can’t accept their physical changes. I can’t enjoy my teenage life , thinking about them.
Jesh says
Well, re read the article again and again . Read it 100 times and absorb each word that’s said . May be you can flush the worries away and be happy, joyful, and grateful that you have parents and a home to live with them . Enjoy each moment with them.Let’s start with this —> make them smile everyday and see how things will change for you soon ! Everyday ah ?? Can you do it ? Or keep crying about the problem ? You choose it’s your life .
Joyce Walden says
Loving advice
Olakpa eseoghene says
Hey Bella… sorry you’re facing this at this time of your life dear… I don’t know if this would work cos I faced similar issues too— and I conquered it.
Try living with them than being afraid for them. Spend more time with them. Ask them questions tell them how you feel about there health and how much you care for them cos that is living. Wake up early and say a prayer together with them start from there and trust me wuth God helping your heart will be open more to live with them as there are then being afraid of what they will become.
Joyce Walden says
Excellent loving advice.
Odile uwitije says
Please stop doing that to yourself. Live in the moment and be present in the moment.
Joyce Walden says
There is hope. Get to know the God who loves you. We all have storms and scars, but we power through because of Jesus and eternal life. He is our hope!
Consider this please
Med Benzida says
Well , listen my friend stop thinking about things you can’t change in life and begin thinking about things you can definitely change in your life, that is how you will live better and solve most of your problems.best wishes .
Veronica Crosby says
WOW THIS IS AMAZING.