Live in the moment. It sounds simple enough, but we as human beings have an incredibly difficult time staying in the moment.
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Why is that?
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I believe we spend so much time replaying past memories, or planning too much for the future, that we miss out on the great moments that are unveiling right before us.
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Too much focus on the future often leads to negative thinking, and is a major cause of stress.
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We should be focused on living in the moment, rather than planning too much for the future.
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I am not proposing that we should spend less time planning. That would be misguided advice. Goal setting is important for us. Setting achievable goals and taking the steps to accomplish them is a powerful way to cultivate responsibility.
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But the present moment is the only moment you have control over right now. Planning isn’t going to guarantee you a desired outcome for the future, so why not accept what you can control right now?
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How do we achieve this?
Observe when your mind begins to wander to the future instead of the present moment you are experiencing.
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No matter what the task is – whether you are taking a walk, or you are washing the dishes, don’t think about anything other than the task at hand. So if you are washing the dishes, then concentrate on that, and don’t let your mind wander off to other topics like what you have to make for dinner, or a conversation you had in the past. If you are having tea, then concentrate on the tea. Think of the quality of the tea, its taste, its warmth, its aroma.
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Plans often don’t manifest themselves the way you want or expect them too anyway. Find a balance between living in the moment and planning. You are only going to be able to control the moment you have right NOW!
Relish the moment. Understand that plans don’t always turn out as expected, and accept the present for what it is……… Practice “mushin no shin” (無心の心), “the mind without mind.” ??
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? Photo Credit: The Yume Collection