Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to be present to the right here and now?  Our minds are usually focused on the past or plans for the future.  We’re not present at work, in conversations, while reading and definitely not while meeting.   Yes, we’re so afraid that we’re going to miss out something or forget something in the future that we can’t stay in the moment.  Have you ever wondered what you miss out on by not being present to living in the moment? 

Some say the reason we do this is because of our ever present ego.  Our egos will not allow us to live in the present because in the present there’s no ego.  It may be a little Zen-like, but just think about it.  Recall a time in your life where you were completely present.  Perhaps it was during a time when you were observing a natural phenomenon, like birds eating or ships sailing or even children playing.  Many of us dismiss these moments as nothing more than a time when we were lost in our thoughts when, in reality, it was the exact opposite.  You were just simply present.  Did it seem like time stopped during those times?  You were not reviewing the past or planning for the future.  You may have even forgotten about yourself and your worries for that moment.  Well that’s the experience of living in the present moment.

Living in the moment takes courage and the willingness to be open to the unknown.  Why, you may ask.  Well, because present moment thinking is not about the past or the future.  Really, when we are thinking about the future it is usually based on what we’ve experienced in the past.  However, with living in the present moment, it’s different.  We are completely present.  We open ourselves to a different reality the reality of not knowing.  When we do this we create joy beyond what we’ve ever experienced before.  Practice the 5 steps to living in the moment below and create more joy in your life:

Cultivate Faith – Faith is more than just an attribute found in the scriptures.  The concept of faith can be found in every religious or new age philosophy.  Faith is the belief in the unseen and the things not yet proven.  By cultivating faith in the goodness of life or just simply cultivating faith that you know everything you need to know already and in due time, what you need and do not have already will be given to you.  This will free you up to be present in the moment and to enjoy the now, knowing that the future is covered. 

Relinquish A Little Control - Sometimes our inability to let go inhibits our ability to live in the present moment.  We’re so concerned that things may not go according to our plans unless we are anticipating what can go wrong and then mitigating it. Relinquishing control and just learning to trust just a little can allow us to be present to the moment. Think back to the times when you just let go of trying to control the outcome of something and how everything turned out better than you imagined.  Please don’t confuse this with being irresponsible.  It’s just that once you have done all that is necessary, abide by the age-old adage “What will be, will be”. This will give you ease and allow you to live the in present moment for sure.

Practice Meditation – Meditation is a perfect practice for quieting the mind and living in the present moment.  There are many different approaches to the practice of mediation.  It’s always tempting to ask which way is better, but there really is no answer.  In our lives, every moment is different.  Therefore take the time to sit in a quiet place and just focus on one thought.  If you’re just getting started, you may want to do a little research to get the basics down and then you’ll be ready to discover which approach works best for you.

Go Visit with Nature - Natural environments have an uncanny way of bringing about the mindset needed to be present to the moment, not to mention its calming and relaxing effect.  Take time to be in nature at least once a week if you’re time and circumstances allow.  You wont regret it.

Living in the present moment, no doubt, takes work and can be a little scary at times, but try it and see what begins to open up in your life.  You’ll experience greater joy and happiness as you get present to precious tiny details of life that you can only be free to observe and experience by living in the present moment.  After all, that’s all we truly have!