- become a minimalist.
- write a novel.
- run a marathon.
- quit smoking.
- learn a new language.
- lose 30 pounds.
- meditate every day.
- remain a minimalist.
Archives for April 2010
10 Tips to Start Living in the Present Moment
“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.
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Further Reading
How to Enjoy a Life You Don’t Need to Escape From
e.f. schumacher on simplicity
any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. it takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction. – e.f. schumacher
sheila’s story
here at becoming minimalist, we love sharing the stories of regular people choosing to live a minimalist life. today, we’re posting sheila’s story who shared it with us through our share your story page.
Like many others, I have always admired minimalist spaces but saw minimalism as something that only a few select individuals could do – something that was not practical for the majority of people. I knew no minimalists personally, so I had not ever seen such a space in person and had no one to ask for practical advice or help.
For years, I have been reading decluttering books, including Clear your Clutter with Feng Shui to better understand why I keep things and learn how to let go. But I had not been able to make much headway until very recently.
I saw a review of a new book (Throw Away 50 Things) where the author suggested the best place to start is by throwing out or giving away fifty things and writing each one down on a list as you go. I tried it and made it to fifty items! It was as if I had reached a tipping point of some sort, and suddenly letting go of things became so much easier.
My husband and I are now preparing for a move, and it’s amazing how many things have moved with me several times in the past but have never been used. This time, it’s different. I have donated so many things, and after I’ve dropped them at the charity shop, I don’t miss any of the items.
I am hoping that my example will encourage my husband to shed much of his stuff, too. But I will be very understanding if he cannot do this to the extent that I have, because I know how many years it took me to get to this point.
I smile when I think of our eventual cross-continent move, which will cost so much less since we will have fewer possessions.
sheila went on to say, “I hope it will inspire others to try, even if they are like I was: wanting to get rid of clutter but having no idea where to start.”
we hope it encourages them too, sheila. thank you for sharing your story. and good luck on your upcoming move.