Live In The Moment And Feel Joy Come To Life

When life becomes complicated, it’s natural to feel the need to escape. We think about happier times or obsess about planning for the future. And some of us get lost in daydreams or engage in negative coping skills.

However, a true sense of joy requires making the most of the life we have now. Not what we wish we had and not living in the past. Nor should we overly focus on the future, even though it is necessary to plan for the future.

In reality, true joy is found each day, experiencing something worthwhile and feeling grateful for things we often take for granted.

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Thus, to experience genuine, lasting joy, we must live in the moment.

For help in developing coping skills that slay stress, see this.

20 Ways To Live In The Moment

Focus only on elements of the current moment.

How does it affect all five senses? What are you seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, feeling?

Every day, choose five to 10 things you are grateful for

They can be inconsequential or minute to something significant.

When worrisome thoughts occur, visualize a big stop sign in your mind’s eye.

Momentarily, force your mind to go blank. Then, guide your thoughts back to the present moment.

See each moment as a gift.

We never know how much time we have left to savor our lives. Hence, the more moments we treasure, the more value it adds to our lives.

Avoid overplanning and inflexibility.

An open mind creates less stress when things don’t go as planned. Have a backup plan. Understand that things can and will go wrong, causing a need to pivot.

Being flexible makes it easier to figure out the next step. Remember, too much planning prevents you from enjoying what’s happening right now.

Soothe your anxious mind with calming techniques.

When the mind is calmer, it allows us to think more clearly and come up with solutions to problems. Try these calming techniques to help yourself relax under stress.

Perform meditation exercises.

Meditation improves focus, creates an environment of mindfulness, decreases burnout, and improves sleep quality. How To Relax guides you through a fantastic meditation experience.

Do something kind for yourself and cherish the experience.

Spend more time doing something you enjoy, such as a facial or massage. Take time for hobbies and family, just having fun and relaxing.

Perform deep breathing exercises.

Do seven to ten repetitions of deep, slow breaths, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. This instantly relaxes the body and calms the mind.

Listen to music.

Focus on the lyrics and the beat. Sing and dance along to release stress!

Read a great book.

If you enjoy reading, books take you anywhere you want, opening your mind to new worlds and exciting knowledge.

Make the most of meaningful relationships.

Spend time with people who make you happy.Relationships increase happiness and life satisfaction. It doesn’t matter what you do together; simply being with supportive people increases well-being.

Spend time on creativity.

Write a song, paint, draw, play an instrument, or build something. It’s fun to create! Perhaps you could join a craft or hobby club or attend a class!

Perform random acts of kindness.

Studies have repeatedly shown that helping others increases our happiness and emotional health.

Forgive past hurts.

Let go of anger, as anger cannot coexist with joy. You may find how to forgive helpful if it is difficult for you to do.

Avoid over-dwelling on past accomplishments and failures.

Living in the past prevents remaining in the present and enjoying all it offers: the smile of a partner, the smell of a rose, or a delicious meal.

Always notice your surroundings.

Experience the beauty around you. Plus, it also helps you stay safe.

Focus on one thing at a time.

Avoid multitasking, which causes you to give less than 100% focus to either task. You’ll perform more efficiently and create a greater sense of self-satisfaction in a job well done.

Avoid jumping to conclusions.

It’s likely the wrong conclusion, and that never ends well. Wait and get all the facts before reacting. Understand that looks, gossip, and newsprint can be deceiving. (And they usually are.)

Find something to celebrate every day.

If you can’t think of anything happy, create something to celebrate! Every day is a gift.

What Does It Mean To Live In The Moment?

Mindful.org states that living in the moment (also known as mindfulness) is the essential human ability to be fully present in the current moment. We are aware of where we are and what we’re doing. Yet, we are not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s happening around us.

Though mindfulness may sound easy, it requires time and practice to learn. Humans are often more grounded in negative thinking, reliving our pasts or thinking our happiness lies in future endeavors.

Take an individual who is unhappy with his job. As a result, the person spends hours daydreaming about winning the lottery and living on the beach. Or he desperately wonders how to find happiness by founding a multimillion-dollar corporation with little money.

Instead, living in the moment means focusing on mindfulness or the here and now. It’s immersing yourself in the small things you usually don’t notice, such as the smell of dinner cooking or a beautiful flower in a sidewalk crack. Maybe it’s your child’s proud smile as she shows you her latest artwork.

Mindfulness means enjoying what’s right before you instead of thinking about something else.

You Have Control Of Mindfulness

Think about it this way.

The present is the only moment in time in which we have control. The past is already gone. And the future is unknown.

But, the present?

How you react to this moment determines your next step.

Will you react in a way that leads to a good outcome? Or a negative one?

You have the power to decide.

Start your day off the right way with this best-selling five minutes of daily mindfulness journal.

Proven Benefits of Living In The Moment

Studies reveal that living in the moment improves cognition, decision-making, and emotional states, lowers stress and anxiety, and prevents overthinking. Thus, it creates feelings of well-being.

Additionally, living mindfully improves overall health.

Practicing mindfulness lowers blood pressure and the risk of heart disease. It also reduces the risk of stroke.

Plus, there are social benefits, too. Possibly due to increased relaxation and improved mental state, mindfulness allows us to make deeper connections in our relationships.

Focusing on the present slows the mind and allows more efficient control over emotions, resulting in calmness and peace.

People living in the present are generally happier. This is likely due to feeling less stressed and focusing on present-day blessings.

Barriers to Mindfulness

There are several reasons why it’s difficult to practice mindfulness. Here are the primary culprits for our inability to live in the present.

1. Racing thoughts cause a loss of focus.
2. Worrying about every possible thing that could go wrong. Focusing on the wrong things.
3. Social Media – Staring at a screen for hours, ignoring what’s happening around you.
4. External Distractionssuch as television, background noise, or crowds.
5. History of Trauma – Physical and emotional trauma affect emotions and thoughts, hampering function. Often, professional help is needed to move forward.
6. Over-planning for the future – Looking toward the future more than remaining in the present. Life requires a healthy balance. However, it’s important to note that planning isn’t wrong, but obsessive planning is unhealthy for one’s emotional state.
7. Regrets about the past. Our past is over and can’t be changed. But we can learn from it and use it to correct old wrongs. Punishing ourselves over the past only brings self-despair. Instead, give yourself credit for learning the lesson.
8. Maladaptive behaviors and inadequate coping skills occur when we ignore problems or don’t know how to cope. However, we can seek professional help to learn healthy behaviors.
9. Short attention spans are often due to distractions, anxiety, or Attention Deficit Disorder.

Essential Things To Remember About Mindfulness

While learning to become more mindful, remember these factors for achieving success.

1. Learning how to live in the moment takes time. So, be patient with yourself.
2. Look to nature for mindfulness. Your natural surroundings have much to offer as a calming influence.
3. Keep a healthy balance in all areas of life. For example, balance work and play efficiently.
4. Worry and anxiety only steal your joy. You don’t need them.
5. Remove negative influences that steal your joy. Negativity doesn’t belong in your present.
6. Figure out what makes you happy. Then, put 100% effort into doing it as often as possible.
7. Put distractions in their proper place.Refrain from allowing them to take over the present.
8. Get enough sleep. The mind and body require sufficient rest to work properly. It’s challenging to feel happy when your batteries aren’t sufficiently charged.
9. Make the most of time behind the wheel by listening to audio tapes or catching up on phone calls. Remember to use Bluetooth for safety.

Don’t miss “Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond: A Meditator’s Handbook” by Ajahm Brahm. Get it here

Wrap Up

When things don’t happen the way you want, avoid making excuses or focus on what could have happened. Instead, focus on what you can do at this moment. This is your power.

Some believe that having possessions brings happiness. However, too many possessions provide external distractions. Mindfulness is internal.

In summary, we are the only ones who power our own happiness. It starts with the ability to live in the moment. And ends with feeling grateful for the good in our lives.

And now, I think you’re ready to take it from here.

References

gaiam.com

psychcentral.com