There are times when I either get caught up with worrying about the future or having regrets about the past. In recent years, such times have greatly reduced. This is mainly because I’ve learned to focus on enjoying the now – the present moment.
Enjoying The Now
There’s a simple exercise I do when I start to revert to worry-mode and I’d like to share it with you.
Here’s what I do:
- Stop whatever I’m doing and relax for a moment.
- Experience the quiet calm of the moment.
- Let go of the worries about the future and the regrets about the past.
- Focus my awareness on the ‘now’.
- Realize this is exactly where I am supposed to be ‘now’
- Give thanks for the moment.
It only takes a minute to do, but the results are instant. I notice that I immediately I become aware of the sounds around me. I become aware of my body. My breathing slows down and I feel much lighter. Most of all, I’m flooded with gratitude for all I am and have.
Try it out, if you don’t already, and let me know how it works for you. I you have other ways of enjoying the ‘now’ I’d love to hear about them.
Quotes about enjoying the ‘now’:
The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt
“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Happiness, not in another place but this place…not for another hour, but this hour.”
― Walt Whitman
We are always getting ready to live but never living.
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Forever is composed of nows.”
― Emily Dickinson
Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.
― John Lennon
“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.”
― Maya Angelou
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.”
― Henry David Thoreau
It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.
― Henry David Thoreau
Image credit: Dog having a siesta via Shutterstock
I’m kind of distracted at the moment. My mind races to things that’ll happen on May and it tires my mind and it keeps me awake.
So I’m relaxing my mind by reading and sitting beside my niece as she plays… I’m focusing and enjoying the moment 🙂
melissa recently posted..Towards the Road of Love
Melissa from our conversation on FB just now it’s not difficult to see why you’re worried. But not getting sleep is not going to help you be creative. But you know that already! Put some lavender essential oil on your pillow at night – it works for me. And about the presentation – it will be a breeze!
Corinne – Very nice post ;). As a matter of fact, reading this is the distraction I needed to relax and be in the moment. Thank you.
So glad it served as a distraction, Ron. That was the idea 😉
… being in the now is a big part of my desire to remain sober! It really is a much better place to be.
If I’m worried or in dread of something, I’m living in the future and if I’m regretting or shoulding all over myself, I’m living in the past… neither of which I can change. I’ve missed a lot of here and now moments and I can still slip into old ideas, but today I know that I have choices, I do not stay there for as long and like you I have certain things I do that over the years proven to work for me…. Gratitude and action are two big helpers.
Amy recently posted..All Seeing
Thank you so much for sharing, Amy. I’m certain that staying in the now helps most of us to stay out of various kind of pain. I know each of us must find our own ways of doing that. But, like you, I’m certain that gratitude is a big part of it.
Thanks for these useful tip, will try it as I have been a bit under the cosh of late!
OtienoHongo recently posted..Facebooking Till Death Do Us Asunder
Hope it helps, Charles. Sorry I’ve been so out of touch of late. Take care.
I love this! During my morning devotional/quiet time I usually sit quietly for a few moments and focus on… nothing. It is difficult for me not to be constantly planning/doing. I have to remind myself that we are human beings not human doings!
Thanks for sharing, Lynne. ‘Human doings’! I’ll remember that for a long time! 🙂
My mind races from one topic to another, never at one place. Thinking up thoughts faster than the brain can catch up…so I just stop doing everything and browse the net for sometime…or play a game or just lay down for a nap…a power nap always rejuvenates me gives me perspective.
Thanks for sharing, Janaki. Each of us needs to find our own ways to center ourselves.
Your tips are perfect, Corinne. And, being thankful is an especially important piece of advice. When we can see the blessings in all things and in the now, we are well on our way to letting God shoulder our burdens.
Blessings to you!
Martha Orlando recently posted..A Labor of Love
I agree, Martha. Gratitude is what makes everything so much better. Thank you.
I must try doing this Corrine. I am anxious all the time about Ron and his future. I cannot seem to sleep well at night. I really should try this. Thank you
rimly recently posted..A Friday Moment
I hope it helps, Rimly. Know that all will be well with Ron and he will find his place in the world and make you proud! ♥
A million thank u’sssssssssss Corinne, I needed this.. NOW.. and I am trying it NOW..
But thank u for ever..
Punam recently posted..Book Review – I too had a love story by Ravinder Singh
Would love to know how it worked for you, Punam.
Worked very fine, Corinne… I just closed my eyes and chanted for a while.. until I could feel the turmoil resting a bit… a wee bit, but good enough to make the difference felt. 🙂
Punam recently posted..Book Review – I too had a love story by Ravinder Singh
That’s good, Punam. If you try it often, you’ll long for more and that’s how it becomes a habit – or at least that’s what I’m hoping happens to me!
Annd I want that cuuuuuuuuuuute puppy!!
Punam recently posted..Book Review – I too had a love story by Ravinder Singh
I want him too 😉
I breathe and try to focus on something in nature. But if I’m really challenged by a problem this takes more time and effort. I find it hard to let go of worries. Luckily, lately my life has been pretty mellow.
Nothing calms better than Nature, does it, Myrna? I’m glad your life has been mellow of late – so has mine actually.
Good advice — Thank you for all that you are!
Dangerous Linda recently posted..this moment
Thank you, Linda. ♥
Great tips, but I seem to worry more if I sit quietly. I go for a walk in the evening, that makes me very happy and grateful to be alive, also my gym routine keeps me positive. Listening to music, a hot cup of tea and playing with my Sparky make me forget all about yesterdays and tomorrows 🙂
We’re all so different, aren’t we, Sulekha? Thanks for sharing!
Hello Corinne.
Some years back, I used to have a lot of health issues, but through training I learned how to breathe and re-focus to keep my heart rate steady in order to calm me down. I’ve learned from experience that it’s pointless worrying about what tomorrow will bring and just concentrate on the here and now, because that’s all we’ve got at this moment in time. My other form of relaxation comes from listening to my favorite singer Mukesh and writing poetry.
Great advice here. The dog photo is way too cute. I’m smiling just looking at him/her. Thanks for sharing.
Andy recently posted..Day 22 (NaPoWriMo): HER BREATHLESS KISSES
Thanks for sharing, Andy. Focusing on one’s breath is a great way to relax, Andy. I fell in love with the dog too!
Hello Corinne.
I have answered the question you asked me on “Her Breathless Kisses”.
Andy recently posted..Day 22 (NaPoWriMo): HER BREATHLESS KISSES
Thank you, Andy. I read that and responded.
Wise words and a simple practical exercise we can all do, thank you Corrine.
I like to look around me and name 5 things I appreciate, that also helps change the way we view things, in any instant, even while sitting in a traffic jam, it really works.
Claire ‘Word by Word’ recently posted..Summer by Edith Wharton
That’s a good add to this exercise, Claire. It good to make our gratitude more specific. Thank you.
The quiet project helps me to do this. I’m usually in front of the computer and the simple project helps me a lot.
Glori recently posted..The Ultimate Resource List for Introverts
Thanks for sharing, Glori.
Great tips – I find the older I get the less I worry because when I was younger I worried all the time about things that never happened! That dog is just so darn adorable!
Glad that’s happening to you – I see the same with me, Lisa. But I still think not worrying is a choice.
Words of wisdom indeed!
I strongly also believe in this philosophy of living in the present, as the NOW is all that we really have.
There is no limit to thinking about the past or future and worrying about it. And like my Granny used to always say, worry about things that have a solution – if there is no solution – then it’s not worth worrying about! I guess she taught us a great lesson while she was alive. 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing and a wonderful reminder to enjoy what we have now. 🙂
Harleena Singh recently posted..Understanding True Love between Two People
Your Grandmom was wise indeed, Harleena. I can see that it’s in the genes 🙂
I would add one thing to that excellent ritual. Take a few deep belly breaths! I can do this driving or sitting at my computer or anywhere. I find that when I start getting lost in the past or the future, I almost always start shallow breathing. Belly breathing brings me right back. I am following your steps right now!
Galen Pearl recently posted..Falling Away
Oh yes, I would add that too, Galen. Focusing on one’s breathing is a great way to be in the now.
I do the same. I always try to think that things could have been worse, so i’d better be grateful for the way they are
Nikky44 recently posted..ViVa La Musica
Great philosophy, Nikky. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Corinne,
First off I have to tell you that I LOVE your photo. That is the cutest dog ever. I’m a big dog lover myself.
I agree with you. I started focusing more of living in the now about six years ago. It took some time to adjust and stop worrying about things but it’s well worth it. I also will do some of these same things whenever I start to revert back to worrying about things that were in my past. Just staying focused on where I am and what I have is so important. We can’t change anything so why obsess over it right!
Thanks for pointing out what you do to bring yourself back to the now. Great tips!
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted..When Life Gets In The Way
Adrienne, I can’t resist dogs too and his (?) expression was priceless.
I like what you said ‘we can’t change anything, so why obsess ….’ So true. Thank you for coming by and sharing.
Sounds like a great stress reliever and reality check. Thanks, Corinne.
It is, Adrienne. Thanks for stopping by.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted..Kairos
I took on a job working for a TBI patient ( I was his one on one aide), who had anterea-grade amnesia and was epileptic from his injuries. What I learned from that experience is that this moment matters–the one right now…all past moments are forever gone–and all future moments are not guaranteed. So I live for the moment as much as I possibly can 🙂
Great post-I am so enjoying your writing.
Cheers, Jenn
http://www.wine-n-chat.com
Jenn recently posted..Welcome
Thank you for sharing, Jenn. I was very moved by your comment. I’m not sure your patient realized the gift he was inadvertently giving you. Thank you for visiting, it’s great having you here. Looking forward to the connection.