"Living In The Now"

"If you continue to live in the past, your life will be history."---Corey Donaldson

Do you live in the NOW? Congratulations if you have learned to master that wise attitude towards your life's experience.

As thinking, rationalizing beings, we humans sometimes think too much. Regretting what did happen. Wishing something else had happened. Worrying, fretting and agonizing on events that may or may not occur in the future. Those mental gyrations take a lot of energy which when applied to embracing the moment, will ultimately lead to a more satisfying existence.

As a culture, we are ingrained with the Puritan work ethic which teaches us to always be working, producing, improving and striving for a purpose. As a result, idleness can be misconstrued as laziness. Heaven forbid we allow ourselves to be "lazy!"

Productivity and achievement become internal validation for the super achievers. Self-esteem gets caught in the equation and unless we are succeeding, we denigrate our value. This self-imposed stress is a choice. In the long run, its a deliberate choice that compromises the art of living in simple abundance.

One of the first questions that people ask when they meet someone new is, "What do you do? It is as if that question defines who we are and what our values represent. Try answering that question with, "I just am." Wouldn't that be a paradigm shift; to just be? Peace of mind will be found when you can arrive at a comforting silence which allows you to accept yourself and simply BE.

Better yet, change the question to, "What do you do for fun?" The answer to that question can be a lot more interesting than how a person makes their living. What we do for fun is what makes us happy. Life is abundant and true happiness exists in the present moment where you'd rather be in that moment, at that time, than any place else on earth. Do you put conditions on your happiness? I'll be happy if.... I'll be happy when... Conditional happiness is an exercise in futility. How can you give your attention to the full experience of living when you are not present? 

How can we reprogram our habits and allow ourselves to embrace the present and live in the NOW?

1. Do things that give you pleasure NOW. A fine meal, fresh flowers, dancing, going to a movie, smiling, forgiving someone, telling your children or spouse that you love them, calling a friend, random acts of kindness. Carpe diem---seize the day.
2. Create. Creating is a great therapy for releasing the stress of the past or the worry of the future. Painting, cooking, gardening, singing are just a few activities that involve you in the moment and reward you in their fulfillment.
3. Play. Remember what you loved to do as a child and DO IT! Children know what adults have forgotten. Children are captivated by the magic of imagination and maximizing the present for joy. Swing, ride a bike, finger paint, run through the rain and splash in the mud puddles.
4. Allow idleness. "Work is not always required.... there is such a thing as sacred idleness, the cultivation of which is now fearfully neglected," said George MacDonald. Give yourself permission to rest, to enjoy, to be.
5. "Live in day-tight compartments," as Dale Carnegie professed in his book, "How To Stop Worrying and Start Living." The present is our only guarantee since we can't change the past or control the future.
6. Putter. "Puttering is really a time to be alone, to dream and to get in touch with yourself."-- Alexandra Stoddard. To putter is discover. Immerse yourself in the NOW by embracing joyful simplicity in puttering.
7. Count your blessings. Life isn't meant to be a struggle. When bad things happen, stress is overwhelming or people aren't kind, reflect on the abundance you are blessed with. Maintain an attitude of gratitude and life will be more rewarding.
8. Find happiness from within. "When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere."---La Rochefoucauld.

Create the opportunity for everyday epiphanies. Each day we can have a revelation of truth which brings us peace, comfort and happiness when we live in the present moment.