How to Live in the Present Moment
There are three realms people tend to dwell in: the past, the present, and the future. Isn’t it a bit ironic that being ‘in the now’ might be the most difficult of them all, even when it is the one we have immediate access to? Often, we’re too busy worrying about the future and mulling over things that have yet to happen. A considerable chunk of our time is also spent ruminating on glory days we wish to relive or past mistakes that bring us regret and shame.
Truth be told, I’m writing this blogpost fresh from a frenzy: wondering if I made the right leaps of faith, half-wishing I chose the ‘safe and easy’ route so I wouldn’t be caught up in a new set of decisions and risks to take. All this ‘thinking’ certainly did not make me any more productive or at ease. And so, whether it’s for a midday anxiety relief exercise or an abiding commitment to treasure life, here is my three-step guide on how to live in the present moment.
Step 1: Find your centre and ground yourself.
One of the best ways to reset is to situate yourself in your surroundings. The world passes by us at full speed, and we, unfortunately, can’t change that. But, we do have the power to control our own pace. The first step to recalibrating is to recognize where we’re at.
Here are a few grounding strategies and techniques.
Count along with your breath. Concentration can be cultivated in the simplest of tools, and counting is a great reminder that we can take things one step at a time.
Do a body scan. Responding to your sensations may surface physical tensions you weren’t even aware of.
Fixate on the scenery in front of you. Colours, especially the greens and blues of nature, can do you wonders.
Step 2: Find your flow and focus wholeheartedly.
As time passes, our attention spans are also getting shorter and shorter. Too much information to absorb is challenged by too little time and brain capacity. Once you’ve found your single point of focus, hold on to it for as much as your energy allows. Being ‘in the zone’ entails offering our attention generously to what is before us.
Here is my holy trinity to prepare for my periods of ‘flow.’
Do not multitask. It’s not about getting more things done quickly; prioritise quality.
Eliminate distractions. Whether it’s incessant notifications or the inevitable internal chatter, the key mindset here is to gracefully let them go.
Find a peak time, if possible. Strive to arrive in your best headspace regardless of what’s at hand — accomplishing a task, running an errand, or even having conversations with friends and family.
Step 3: Find a take-away that carries you on to the next moment.
Nowadays, complaining seems to come so instinctively to us. We’re quick to point out flaws and where we have fallen short. It seems humans are hardly satisfied; we constantly chase for ‘more’ and ‘better.’ What I realised is no matter what we do, we have the power to frame situations according to how we want to process them.
Here are some things I reflect on as I transition from moment to moment
What steps I took. Sometimes, the act of going through something can be more profound than the outcome.
What I felt. Even though feelings can be messy and spirits can be generally downcast at times, being in touch with our emotions allows us to know ourselves more deeply and may help us become better to ourselves.
What I learned. Each moment is brand new and can offer an insight. What will you take to heart and carry over to your future adventures?