Dr. Wayne Dyer, famed author, metaphysical speaker, and life coach, says this about present moment living:
“Present-moment living, getting in touch with your now, is at the heart of effective living. When you think about it, there really is no other moment you can live. Now is all there is, and the future is just another present moment to live when it arrives.”
We have all had moments of present-moment awareness; often referred to as the zone, we are so intensely focused on the task we are immersed in that we lose touch with everything else around us. In this state of heightened awareness, we experience more joy, more peace, more happiness than when we are engaged in obsessing over the future or fretting about the past. In these uncertain times when fear and uncertainty are seeming to affect all of us, it has never been more important to hone that skill of learning to live in and appreciate the present moment. How do we do this?
Tips for staying present
While it is not common, the art of being present can be learned if you practice diligently and commit to those moments of awareness daily. Here are some tips for staying present and living in the moment, where the magic of life truly happens:
1. Listen…..listen intently
Listening to others and truly understanding what they are saying to you helps you to make deeper connections with others, form authentic relationships, and express who you are freely. Acknowledging what others say in an attempt to understand their thoughts and motivations will give you insight into the way they think and the way you respond. Learn to appreciate true and honest communication with others, and you will cherish every interaction that you have with those around you.
2. Observe your thoughts
It is estimated that we have a staggering 70,000 thoughts daily swimming around in our consciousness. Much of this is negative and limited thinking based on our previous experiences; these toxic thoughts keep us locked in a current reality that we can’t change, or experiencing circumstances that we view as out of our control. Simply becoming aware of our thoughts gives us the opportunity to redirect them and carve out a new reality based on new thoughts and new possibilities. When you first start to turn the boat around, it may seem like slow going. As with all things, however, a practiced skill becomes much easier with time. Give yourself the gift of observing your thoughts, and it will change your life.
3. Eat slowly and savor your food
We rush through life, gulp down our food, and even engage in unconscious eating as a means of making ourselves feel better. This rush for gratification often leaves us very dissatisfied. Slowing down, becoming conscious of tastes, smells, and textures when eating helps you to remain more present in the moment and enjoy one of the most pleasurable experiences of life—-a good meal.
4. Breathe consciously
Healing is in every breath we take, if we allow it. When we are able to focus on our breath, we slow it down, we make it more efficient, and we oxygenate every cell in the body, making healing and restoration possible. Breathing also has the remarkable ability to help calm and slow the mind, eliminating toxic thought programs and giving us the gift of the present moment.
5. Focus on a single task
Multitasking is not always effective; we often rush through tasks and fail to give our best efforts when completing several things at one time. Slowing down, focusing on a single task, and completing that with excellence gives new perspective to accomplishing things in life. A slower-paced approach to life is needed at this time, and it will allow you to actually get more done to your satisfaction. Let go of the obsessive need to complete a thousand things in a day, and watch how your productivity actually increases.
6. Complete daily acts of kindness
A simple smile, a helping hand, a kind word to a passerby on the street could significantly improve someone’s life; the truth is, we never know how our acts of kindness are going to enrich and improve the lives of those around us. Spread some good karma by spreading a little kindness around you daily, and see how your own life improves as a result of all that goodness.
7. Be grateful
Oh, there is so much to be grateful for—the air we breathe, the opportunity to live life and experience the world around us, the gifts of love and joy that are ours for the taking if we choose to see them. When we practice gratitude, we find things to appreciate about daily living; it impacts our health, our minds, and life as a whole.
8. Seize the day
Do you wake up, eager to seize the day, grateful for another chance to experience life? Every day is a gift to us, and the only appropriate response to this should be gratitude and excitement; there are gifts all around us and opportunities just waiting to be taken advantage of. What are you waiting for? Go out and experience the day, live in the present moment, and create a life of magical gifts that you can use to benefit yourself and others!
