“Most humans are never fully present in the now, because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one. But then you miss your whole life, which is never not now.” – Eckhart Tolle
What do you feel when you read the quote above? Being present in the moment. What does it even mean? You might feel a burst of curiosity when you try to understand what the quote says.
Phrases like, “All you have is now!”, “The past and future don’t exist, only the present does” might feel a bit mind-boggling but there is some truth ingrained in them.
All of these quotes and phrases, although said in many different ways only mean one thing: being present in the Now.
If you think about it, we are never fully living in the present. We are either ruminating about the past, things we should have said and done, or wondering about the future, and how it is going to be.
“Learn from the past, look to the future, but live in the present.” – Petra Nemcova
Everything nowadays is too fast-paced, the world, technology, people, you name it. There is always something that needs to be done and routines that we have to follow to get them done on time.
Depression, anxiety, stress, and misery have become the norm. Why? Because without even being aware of it, we are continually swinging from past to future which leaves us feeling exhausted and out of touch with the present moment.
From this negative state, if you hear the words “be conscious of the now” a.k.a present, there is a high chance it might piss you off. Because aren’t we already living in the present?
Yes, we are. But there is a difference between surviving and being.
The more you try being present in the moment, the more you realize how crucial it is to be centered and have a sense of inner peace.
“The present moment is the only thing where there is no time. It is the point between past and future. It is always there and it is the only point we can access in time. Everything that happens, happens in the present moment. Everything that ever happened and will ever happen can only happen in the present moment. It is impossible for anything to exist outside of it.” – Myrko Thum
Being Present in the Moment: Why is it hard?
As I mentioned earlier, practicing mindfulness, in the beginning, can be difficult because we are constantly buffeted by our surroundings and environment.
News, media, movies, entertainment, and advertisements never fail to remind us to worry about the future or regret the past. Another thing that never fully allows us to relax in the present moment is the devices we surround ourselves with.
While phones help us tremendously in many different ways, it is crucial to cut ourselves off from them every once in a while. Other reasons why we find it hard to live in the present are when we dwell too much on the incidents of the past and victimize ourselves over and over again, and when we face the present, it fills us with uncertainty and anxiety.
However, everything is acquired through, even the problem of not being present in the moment. It is completely possible to create healthy habits that help us stay grounded in the present.
“If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.” – Lao Tzu
Being Present in the Moment: How to do it?
Balance is the key. It’s not that you can’t focus on the past or future at all. The key here is to balance the thoughts of the past, present, and future in a healthy manner.
Try to dwell on the past events in small doses and for a good reason. You can think about a pleasant experience that happened in the past or a situation that helped you grow into a better person.
The same goes for thinking about the future. Instead of dwelling on it excessively and being fearful about it, try dwelling on it in a way that motivates you and helps you stay prepared.
Being aware of the present takes time to master but with practice, it does get easier. There are a few other techniques you can do that will increase your awareness and keep you centered.
Being Present in the Moment: Tools to help you stay grounded
One of the tools that will keep you anchored in the present is your breathing. When you fully focus on your breathing, you are focused on the present moment. There are numerous breathing exercises that you can practice that will elevate you from stress and anxiety.
Visualizing your goals for the day is another element that will help you tremendously. When you visualize your goals and see yourself completing them in your mind, it gives you a boost and increases your motivation to be present.
Last but not the least, the best tool to stay in the present moment is meditation. Most people often find it hard to meditate because they are overwhelmed by their thoughts.
But meditation isn’t about controlling the thoughts, it is about letting them be. When you meditate, try becoming the observer of your thoughts and watch them go by without dwelling on them or letting them affect you.
“We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
Bottom Line
In all honesty, it is not easy being present in the moment. We are so programmed to dwell negatively on the past and future that we never fully appreciate the present.
But as with everything else, it takes conscious practice and discipline. If you want to live a life of ease and peace, then you need to stay dedicated to mindfulness practices. And with time you will find it easier to do so.
