Written by: Cynthia Martin, CHt, RMT, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Happiness Researchers have found that people who live in the ‘NOW’ are happier, more optimistic, less depressed, and more satisfied with life overall but how can we live in the ‘now’ with all the distractions of yesterday and preparing for tomorrow? And, it’s not like we aren’t aware that this is a path to better living when we have trending lifestyle tips coming at us from every direction 24/7. It’s hard to avoid someone telling you to "live in the present." But what does it mean to be in the "hear and now" present moment, and why does it matter?
Living in the present, here and now means that our awareness and undistracted attention is fully focused on this very moment, the one we are in at every second. It is an experience almost devoid of time itself where you are not concerned about the yesterday or tomorrow, past or present but rather centered in the here and now, connected to yourself and what is going on around you. You may think you’re living in the present, but if your focus is not at full attention on what you are doing in a given moment, you may be existing in the physical, but in your thinking, feeling, and awareness, you are living in the past or contemplating the future.
Why Being Present is Good for Your Mental Health
When you are able to move from the racing thoughts and distractions of daily life and into a state where you are immersed in the present moment, it is much easier to find ease and relief from the constant hustle. Here are some of the benefits the happiness researchers have found come from being more present at the moment.
Live in the now, not the past that is gone or the future that has yet to arrive
Makes you better equipped to cope with negative emotions like fear, w
Become more conscious, self-aware, and mindful of your thoughts, habits, behaviors, and needs
Find more joy in life
The unfortunate truth is that hectic schedules and short attention spans can sum up the norm of modern-day living and fasts paced living which keeps stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction on high. The constant demands on our attention, time, and energy make it difficult to live or focus on the now even when we want to. But it's not your fault because our hustle culture has groomed and even encouraged us to keep our sights set on the future while dwelling in the past with the bombardment of media from advertisements, messages, alerts, and notifications all geared towards driving your attention on either the nostalgia of past or motivations for the future.
Think of the last time you were doing something where you were in the flow, and that sudden buzz of your phone notification instantaneously pulled you right out and into something else, maybe it was even while reading this article.
Disrupting the Disruptions of the Present Moment
So how do you break this cycle of endless disruptions and distractions that keep us stuck in the past or perpetually preparing for the future instead of the now?
First, it is important to understand that you do not have to avoid thinking about the past or the future, in fact, it is healthy to do so when you create a balance of how much time you spend thinking there as well as how and what you are choosing to think about.
The past is essential in supporting us to live well in the present because it guides our growth, and it does so more effectively when we reflect on the results of our past experiences as a tool for wisdom. In this case, we can use it as a positive guide in making better decisions and choices that support us.
It is when we dwell in the past with a focus on the negative, and we can't see the growth, strength, or learning we gained from those experiences because it becomes clouded by pain, regret, or even suffering. On the flip side, we can be disempowered by the past by dwelling in a nostalgia that edits out the negative which can make a living in the present a point of pain, regret, or difficulty.
We also have to recognize the value of preparing for the future because the aim as humans is to grow and evolve with the hopes to reach our full potential in our lifetime however, when we obsess on achieving more and more, we miss the opportunity of enjoying all the good that surrounds us at the moment because we can't see what is in front of us when our sights are set too far ahead.
Let's make it very clear, being present t isn't about living in the perpetual now all the time either, it is important to realize that we don't have to give up remembering the past or focusing on the future it is about creating a harmonious balance between the three that will lead to a more fulfilling, satisfied, happy, healthy life. It is also important to consider that there is no one size fits all formula to achieving this harmonious balance either, you will have to determine what that healthy ratio is for you, and it will be clear to know when you hit it because you will find yourself less worried or stressed about what happened yesterday or what could happen tomorrow, in fact, you will find yourself feeling more content with today.
Here are 3 tips for creating this healthy balance for yourself
1. Use the Past for Treasure Hunting. Treat the past like a resource library you visit in small doses to collect valuable insights, remember moments that taught you valuable lessons or gave you a skill you use today that you would not have otherwise obtained if you had not had that experience, regardless if positive or less than positive. For example: Visit a moment in the past where you had a difficult time with a problem and focus on the details of how you handled it, what you did well and what didn't go well so you can identify the key success and then come back to the present moment.
2. Use the Future as a Directional Guidepost. The future is never definitive nor predictable, so it is best to see the future as a destination point on a map that gives you a sense of direction with many possible roads leading to it and many amazing unexpected stops to discover along the way that you can explore and gain life-enhancing experiences from.
3. Use the Present as the anchor and converging point to savor it all. The present is where it can all come together, it is the timeless space to hit the 'Pause" and disrupt the hustle and enjoy the moment and appreciate the journey. Set an intention for your Pause, make it a moment where you commit to delighting in the good of your life to see and take joy in your accomplishments where worry and fear are not allowed to enter.
Like with any other habit or change that you want to implement to improve your life, you must start wherever you can and be willing to stay consistent, then take small steps starting with the first, which is to commit to being more present one moment at a time even if it’s 30-seconds to appreciate the life happening in front of your eyes and build momentum from there. As you work out your attention muscle to focus on being in a single undistracted moment you will find the next easier until it becomes second nature and more importantly you may start to find yourself noticing the gifts and miracles that have surrounded you all along.
Cynthia is a Spiritual Awakening & Mind Mastery Coach empowering conscious professionals, entrepreneurs, and emerging visionary leaders in their spiritual journey to become self-actualization and superconscious so they can gain mastery of their mind and energy and create their dream reality.
She is on a mission to activate the greater potential of conscious leadership for those seeking more than the ordinary in both life and business. By using transformational methods and tangible science-based frameworks that work at the level of the superconscious, she can help you achieve the fastest and easiest path to healing and reprogramming yourself to naturally live and operate at your best in health, and happiness, wealth, and success as you are meant to.
Let’s connect on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or visit my website for more info on upcoming programs and tools!
Cynthia Martin, CHt, RMT, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Cynthia is a Spiritual Awakening & Higher Mind Mastery Coach empowering conscious professionals, entrepreneurs, & emerging visionary leaders in their spiritual journey to become self-actualization and superconscious so they gain mastery of their mind and energy and create their dream reality. She is on a mission to activate greater potentials of conscious leadership for those seeking more than the ordinary in both life and business. By using transformational methods and tangible science-based frameworks that work at the level of the superconscious, she can help you achieve the fastest and easiest path to healing and reprogramming yourself to naturally live at your best in health, happiness, and wealth & success.
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