Focus on the Moment

If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.

– Lao Tzu

Summer is in full swing and that means all of us are busy. The days are longer, and warmer, so we try to squeeze in as many activities as we can. We overbook ourselves and our families for many reasons including peer pressure, a desire to feel productive, an inability to sit still or because there is just so much that can be experienced.

Being busy isn’t a bad thing, in fact it’s probably a very good thing. It’s just important to be present in the moment. Many of us can’t enjoy the little things in life because we are so worried about what’s around the corner. If we aren’t worrying about the future we’re dwelling in the past. The truth is no one can travel in time yet so worrying about the future or the past is pointless.

If you’re like most people in Chicago you start your day early and end it late. You spend too much time in traffic commuting to and from work while worrying about work, family or that doctor’s appointment you’ve been meaning to make for the last six months. You have plenty of technology to help you be more productive but it’s likely that technology never gets turned off.

This weekend consider taking a break from it all. You don’t have to go anywhere to get away from the daily grind, just turn off the technology that we’ve all become so dependent on. Take a walk along the shores of the lake, take a hike in the woods, or simply sit in your backyard or on your balcony and refuse to follow the train of thought that is running through your mind. Practice focusing on the moment. Of course this practice is paradoxical in and of itself. You can’t live in the moment with the expectation of reward, it won’t work. But, if you achieve living in the moment the rewards will be abundant.

Living in the moment takes practice but it is possible if you start small, don’t sweat it if you fail and keep trying.

Practice these tips to achieve being present in the moment:

Breathe – Taking deep breaths can calm the mind and the body. Whether you’re experiencing anxiety or are at peace practice taking deep breaths while clearing your mind of the clutter that takes up so much energy. Sit still for 10 minutes each day if possible and pay attention to all your senses. Feel your body relax as you let go of the thoughts that distract and hold you back.

Flow – Have you ever been so engrossed in an activity that you lost all track time? This experience is called flow and is important for living in the moment. Flow is not an easy state to achieve but you can prepare yourself for it by creating the conditions necessary for it to occur. Flow can occur on accident such as when falling in love or it can be cultivated with activities such as learning a new piece of music on the piano, writing poetry or reading a book. The point is to lose track of time because you are engrossed in the moment and the task at hand.

Be Fearless – All of us have obstacles to overcome, we are all fighting our own battles. Struggles are a way of life but choosing to face the issue rather than hide from it can be a crucial part of enjoying the present and looking forward to the future. Face your trouble head on and take away its power over you. By dealing with a work project that you’ve been dreading or tackling a difficult subject with a child or spouse immediately instead of putting it off (so you use your present to worry about the future) you’ll be taking back your control. Accept that the process might be difficult or even painful. By accepting the negative feelings that go along with a task you prevent stressing over the stress.

Be in the Now – I have a friend who was looking forward to her wedding because she was excited to have wedding photos. To be fair she was looking forward to savoring the images of the wedding when she wasn’t worried about the menu, place settings, seating charts, cost of the event and what horrible thing her mother would do to embarrass her. She was so wrapped up worrying about how the wedding was going to be horrible that she forgot to enjoy it. When she finally got the wedding photos she looked at them as if she was a guest instead of the main participant. The marriage didn’t last but a few years.

Don’t expect to stop worrying about the past of future right away. Understand that it takes practice and time but know it is possible to enjoy all that is around you and that by enjoying the moment you don’t hurt the future or alter the past. Embrace the past, present and future by living in the moment.