Mindfulness: Living in the Moment

Living in the Moment is a concept that I have personally found very helpful. It is a state of being where you are fully present, focused, aware, mindful, and inspired. It is not a state of mind where your thoughts run or wander; it is not thinking or reflecting on what has occurred, rather living in the moment. In fact, one of the biggest benefits of being present is that nothing is ever lost or changed. You may feel emotions like anxiety, fear, anger, frustration or other types of strong emotions but as soon as you become aware of them, you can then simply respond to them positively. Living in the moment doesn't require thinking, but is an ability you develop naturally over time.

Living in the moment also requires participating with all of your senses. This can be done through a simple exercise such as noticing where your eyes focus, such as in a mirror or when you are enjoying bright sunlight, listening to music, or any number of other senses. The key to developing good mindfulness meditation is to be aware of all of the senses you are using and to fully allow them to respond without judgment. When doing mindful breathing exercises, for example, you can practice being mindful by paying attention to the sounds around you as well as feeling every sensation as it occurs.

One of the most common challenges people have is being in the midst of activity and worrying about what needs to be done. The problem with worrying is that it becomes non-emotional and prevents you from being fully present in the moment. Worrying about something can block your creativity and get in the way of finding solutions. When you are present with your activities, however, you are more likely to notice subtleties and nuances that can otherwise escape your attention. Living in the moment and noticing all of the little details is one of the most beneficial ways to avoid negative emotions such as stress and worry. If you are in a public place, for instance, and you feel yourself starting to get tensed and anxious, it is a good idea to step out into the open air for a bit and breathe deeply, taking in the environment.

A third example of using mindfulness to overcome worry and stress comes from the world of hypnotherapy. Professional hypnotherapists often use mindfulness exercises that are specifically designed to relax the body and mind before they begin a session on the client. In the relaxed state of hypnosis, a client begins to visualize relaxing images and listening to soothing music. Because hypnosis is based in mental states, it is possible to put the person in a different state of mind than they are comfortable with. Once the hypnotherapist puts the client in this state of mind, they can work with the client's natural defenses to help them remove the build up of worry and tension that have built up over time. Because mindfulness exercises are designed to bring the mind and body into a balanced state of relaxation, they provide a powerful weapon against feelings of worry and stress.

So how do you know when you are paying attention and when you are ignoring it? Mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment, being fully present, paying attention to your breath, and paying attention to the thoughts that you are having. If you feel something is not adding up, you will simply observe the thought as it passes by, allowing it to pass by and thinking nothing more of it. By doing this on a daily basis, it becomes habit and soon your mind is not focusing on what is not happening anymore but what is happening right now.

What if you could take a moment to stop and observe your everyday habits, even the ones you think are not positive? By doing this consistently, day after day, you will find that you are a happier person overall. While paying attention and noticing new things happening right now, you can learn to welcome the good and the bad in your life. By cultivating a mindful mindset, you will find that you are less stressed and more able to enjoy every moment that you experience. It takes effort, of course, but being mindful and paying attention does not have to be difficult.