The Present Moment

Most of us spend our time regretting things from the past, worrying about the future, or thinking about how things could be. I know I do. My mind is in a constant turmoil of ‘what ifs’ and ‘if onlys’. And you know what? I forget about the present moment, about the here and now.

When I’m driving in the mornings, I’m thinking about the day ahead and what I have in store.When I’m at work, except for the time I’m seeing clients, I am constantly wishing I was at home writing or blogging. When I’m at home, I’m thinking about the next day or just wishing how great life could be if only I had…

Basically, for most of my day, I’m not living in the moment.

 

When I look at my life, there are only few moments when I’m wholly and completely just savouring the moment. Just being present. Like when I am exercising. Or when I am on a writing spurt. Or sometimes when I’m around nature. And funnily enough, when I’m with certain clients. When I exercise, my entire focus is on the exercises I’m meant to be doing and the pain in my body. I’m not wishing I was elsewhere. Similarly when I’m just writing freely there is nothing apart from the content I’m writing and the feel of the keys or pen. When I’m hiking or at the beach, I can certainly savour the moment rather than letting my mind wander constantly. As for clients, especially the ones I like to see, I’m there for them completely without any distractions whatsoever.

All this makes me wonder why I can’t be in the present moment more often.

I’m sure this turmoil plays a part in my current mental state. After all, it can’t be easy to be happy or even content if I’m constantly wishing I was elsewhere. I know I should be practising mindfulness; after all, I teach some of my clients the same thing! I know it helps. But I am also aware that mindful breathing is not easy for me. Rather, it’s easier to be mindful with some activities; something concrete. So I think I’m going to start small.

I’m going to try and be mindful for 5 minutes every hour. It can be mindfully listening to sounds or mindfully doing an activity like driving or washing the dishes or cooking or even just mindfully drinking my coffee as opposed to gulping it down. I may not succeed all the time. But I’m damn well going to try. After all, it’s all these little moments that make up life. Not the what ifs or if onlys. It’s the here and now that I’m living.

Do you live in the present moment? Are you good at mindfulness?

What works for you?

Do share!

***Linking with Alicia for Open Slather and Kirsty for I must confess***

Until next time,

Cheers!!!