Have you ever wondered what it means to live in the present? It would seem: aren’t we all here and now? “Technically,” yes, but often we actually live in our own minds. From day to day, we are in a state like a dream, in which we are not connected either with the world around us or with our inner world.
Instead, we are busy with memories of the past, thoughts and concerns about the future, judgments and reactions to what is happening around us. We are literally missing out on a significant part of our own lives, and this creates a deep sense of emptiness and instability in us.
Very often, when the list of my “urgent” tasks exceeds critical boundaries and it seems to me that I am not doing anything, I remember that all these things are complete nonsense and that they prevent me from living and enjoying the present. The easiest way for me to stop and catch my breath is through meditation, but there are other ways to bring myself back to the present.
Here are 6 simple ways to help us live fully and mindfully every day.
- When you eat, only focus on that.
When you eat food on autopilot, distracted by the TV, computer, or other conversations, you simply do not notice the taste and aroma of food. Chances are, you don’t even feel satisfying or full because you “missed” what you ate.
Don’t try to do fifty other things when you sit down for lunch, coffee, or green smoothies. Just focus all your attention on what is in front of you.
- Take walks with awareness
While walking, pay close attention to the movements of your body and observe everything that happens around you.
Pay attention to how your feet touch and lift off the ground. Feel the muscles that are engaged while walking and help maintain balance.
Observe everything around you – for sounds, objects, smells. You will be surprised when you discover a whole world around you that you have not noticed before.
- Watch your breath
Eckhart Tolle, author of several best-selling books, my favorite is New Earth, said that one inhalation and one exhalation is already meditation. Your breathing is natural and rhythmic. When you follow it, it brings you back from consciousness to body.
Observing the breath, you will momentarily free yourself from thoughts, worries and fears, remind yourself of who you really are, because you are not your thoughts.
- Pause before taking action
Pause and listen to the sound of the phone call before answering it. Pause and feel the weight of your body in your chair before starting your day. Pause and feel the handle of your house door in your hands before opening it at the end of the day.
Small pauses between actions during the day will help you get closer to your inner being, clear your mind and give new energy to complete the task ahead.
- Meditate every day
Meditation increases the level of energy, happiness, inspiration, enhances the feeling of inner peace.
It won’t take long. Even 10 minutes a day will have a positive impact on your life. Meditation will strengthen the “muscles” of awareness, it will become much easier for you to feel in the present. Besides, the side effect of regular meditation is more positive changes in the state of health. You can read about this in my article.
- Observe your thoughts and emotions
You are not your thoughts, you are the observer of thoughts. The very ability to listen to them proves that you are not them. Just by being aware of your thoughts, not giving any assessment and watching them come and go – like clouds flying across the sky – you feel your presence. Imagine your thoughts like trains at a station: you are on a platform, watching them come and go, but you are not going to get on and leave.