There is something to be said for living in the moment. Remembering to be present in life is something I am learning to do. I have discovered that much of my life has been spent worrying about what happened yesterday or who said what in the past. Then there is the dreaded “What will I do next, what does the future hold?” Allowing the simple pleasures of the present moment into my day is a practice that brings both enjoyment and balance into my life.

Exchanging a sincere hello or heart-felt smile with a stranger on the street is an example of living in presence. Making the shift to genuinely listen to a friend without allowing endless thoughts and mind chatter distract me is an example of living in presence. Taking time to get down and play cars with my young son instead of doing endless chores and tasks from my “To Do” list is an example of living in presence. When I am living in presence, my mind is at rest and my heart feels full. I feel truly alive and far removed from any worries about the past or the future. When I am living in presence I recognize the beauty in the people around me and in my surroundings, no matter what the situation felt like moments earlier.

We as a society are programmed to get as much done as we can in the shortest amount of time possible. We often go for days and weeks on “autopilot”, completing tasks only to begin worrying about the next one. Then there is the constant worry about what others may think of us. The continuous thought flow and mind chatter often take on a negative tone that is self-defeating. This type of existence rarely leaves room for taking in the simple pleasures of the moment, “Who has time for simple pleasures when there is just so much to do and worry about and so little time to do it in?”

This type of mind-based living creates disconnect from who we really are and is the perfect breeding ground for low self-esteem and illness. When we are caught up in how we may appear or come across to others, we begin representing ourselves from a “mindset” instead of from our “hearts” or from who we truly are. Often we become so unaware we are caught up in the rat race and worry that the only thing to help our minds and bodies slow down is a nasty flu bug, or worse some type of disease. Our bodies literally force us to slow down and take it easy. During these times of illness, it seems easier to put things in perspective and become aware of how we feel in the present moment. But, it doesn’t usually last long because as soon as we feel a bit better we rush around to get caught up for all that lost time. So, the cycle continues and once again discovering the beauty of the present moment is set aside, added to the list of things to do at some later time.

I have learned the best thing about living in the moment is that it’s not a goal to work toward in the future. It doesn’t require me to take a course to learn the skills to do it either. I don’t have to wait until I get sick or forced to slow down in order to find it. In fact, there is nothing to be found. I can at anytime in the present, decide to be present. This shift reshapes the course of my day and has the power to change how I feel about any situation put before me, especially the ones that seem the most stressful and agonizing.

I have discovered a certain amount of peace in realizing that even when I am caught up in the midst of my most stressful moments (which still arise quite regularly) I am but a moment away from letting them go through the practice of self-awareness and presence.

A tip I use to become present is to bring my focus to breathing. Take a few deep breaths to bring awareness to your present situation. Begin to notice the sights and sounds of your surroundings and watch how your thoughts begin to slow down. If you find your thoughts and worries creeping back in, acknowledge they are there and gently give them permission to pass.

I find that no matter what the situation, when I focus on my breathing and surroundings I become more present. When I am present I am more aligned with who I really am on the inside. When my inner self shines through, my interactions with other become gentler and happier. Suddenly, what seemed like the end of the world becomes manageable and less important. My so called problems fade and I begin to notice the beauty and all that is good around me.

Beauty exists in all things, people and places; the lesson we are all faced with is to be present enough to recognize it.

All the best,

Emily Madill

Children's Author

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