Have you ever thought about what it means to live in the moment?  Wayne Dyer describes it this way, “Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal.  Live this day as if it were your last.  The past is over and gone.  The future is not guaranteed.”  Emily Dickinson says, “Forever is composed of nows.”  How do you live your life?

I had a chance to think about this recently.

Last week my family and I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Mexico and witness my nephew’s wedding.  What a brilliant setting it was.  The ceremony was perfect, with the sun shining, waves crashing on the rocks behind us, and everyone looking beautiful with gorgeous smiles on their faces.

We knew we would only be there briefly, so we didn’t plan much.  We wanted to enjoy the few days we had away from snowy Minnesota and bask in the sunshine.  However, a few hiccups in our travel were out of our control, and I had to remind myself how to live in the moment and let go of what I can’t change.

• On the way to Mexico, our plane had to be de-iced, which delayed us getting to our hotel and took away a few precious hours in the sunshine.
• The wind in Mexico was crazy.  It prevented a fishing trip for the guys and made any attempt at styling my hair obsolete.
• I couldn’t get my e-mails, which is good if I want to unplug, but I also use them as part of my morning routine.
• I got a bad sunburn on my back the first day, which shortened my time at the pool.
• Our flight home was delayed for 3 hours, and we could not get home from the airport because the roads were close to our hometown.

That doesn’t seem like much, but if I had dwelled on or complained about any of that, I would have missed so many beautiful things.

• My traveling companions.  I went to High School with the bride’s mother, so I could reconnect with her and her family.  My husband’s family and my children were all there, which doesn’t happen very often, much less on vacation.
• Sunshine!  Going for walks without slipping on snow or ice.
• Witnessing the beautiful wedding.
• Appreciating the hours they all put in to make the wedding and vacation special!
• Finding shade but still being able to laugh and talk with everyone.
• A few extra precious hours with family during the delay.

Vacation is a pretty easy way to live in the moment, despite things going wrong.  But how do we live in the moment in everyday life?

“Stop acting as though life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.” — Wayne Dyer

Living in the moment is also called mindfulness.  Be mindful of what is happening right now and not dwell on the past or worry about the future.

Here are a few tips I have learned to live in the moment:

Breathe –

Let go of the negativity in your mind.  When you find yourself being negative, stop, take a few deep breaths and let it go.  Clear your mind and focus on now.

Set a daily intention –

Every day is a new day.  As part of your morning routine, write down how you want to feel or what you want to accomplish today.  Try meditating.

Related Post: What do you mean “Set an Intention”?

Single Task –

Stop doing five things at once.  Focus on each task separately.  For example, don’t drive, put your make-up on, catch up on social media, and eat breakfast simultaneously.  Make time for each task, and enjoy each moment.

Slow down –

There is no need to be in such a hurry.  You don’t have to pack everything you want to do in small amounts of time.  Make smart choices about what is most important to you.

Listen –

Actually, pay attention to the words someone is speaking to you.  Try not to let your mind wander to the 1,000 things you should be doing at the time.

“Remember, then: there is only one time that is important — Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power.” — Leo Tolstoy

Awaken your senses –

Pay attention to what you hear, smell, taste, see and feel.

Don’t let disruptions make you angry –

Before you go off the handle because someone just pulled out in front of you or someone just said mean things about you, take a moment to think about your response.  How do you really want to handle it?  Do you want to ruin your day because of someone else’s issues?  Move on to the next moment.

Change a routine –

Take a different route to work, get up early, and make breakfast for your family or take a walk at lunch.  Anything a little different from what your habits are every day.  Changing your routine can make you more aware of your surroundings, and you may discover some new inspiration.

Notice when you get irritated –

Change your mindset when you are stuck in a long line, in traffic, or delayed.  Are there emails you can catch up on?  Is there someone you can call?  Make the most of this time you are given.

Related Post – Why Does Everyone Annoy Me and What Can I Do?

Take time to reflect on your day –

As part of your evening routine, write down how your day went; it is now in the past, and then prepare for the next day.

Benefits of living in the moment

If you are living in the moment, you can’t miss it.  You can’t wonder where time has gone because you lived it!

Living in the moment can make you less anxious and fearful because you aren’t worried about the future.  You can’t worry about things that probably won’t happen to you.  Take each moment and handle it at the time it happens.

It also brings you closer to others because you are taking the time actually to connect.

How about this?  According to Psychology Today, ”Cultivating a nonjudgmental awareness of the present bestows a host of benefits. Mindfulness reduces stress, boosts immune functioning, reduces chronic pain, lowers blood pressure, and helps patients cope with cancer. By alleviating stress, spending a few minutes a day actively focusing on living in the moment reduces the risk of heart disease.”

Living in the moment does not mean you can’t set goals and plan for the future, but what you do in each moment helps you achieve those goals.

It is much easier said than done to live in the moment, but I hope you can take away a thing or two to practice a few times a day.

What else would you add?

Jason Mraz wrote a fun song to illustrate “Living in the Moment.”  You can listen here.

“I’m living in the moment, I’m living my life.  Oh, easy and breezy, with peace in my mind.  I got peace in my heart, I got peace in my soul.  Oh, wherever I’m going, I’m already home.”  Jason Mraz