Feel Happy Every Day By Living In The Moment

“My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.” ~ Oprah Winfrey ~

The past is history.
The future is a mystery.
The only time we really have is now - just this moment.

How many times have your said to yourself “today sure went by fast”. It seems that our lives are so complex and so full of things to do that we forget to feel the moments that together make up a day. Moments are lost amid the clutter of everyday and they become blurred by the activities we invent. It seems like activity is more important than the moments in which they occur.

Moments come and go as we do our ‘important’ tasks of the day. Our focus seems to be on what needs to be done instead of on what we can do with the moments we are given. Quantity become more important than quality and quality moments slip by one by one into the shadows of our life. They become forgotten, lost, or not important.

Living in the moment is both simplistic and complex in concept; living in the moment is about just being. Being fully present in every situation, body, mind, and soul, so that you experience everything you do totally and absolutely. Living in the moment means you are totally immersed in an experience.

In those moments when you engage yourself completely, nothing in the future exists - and nothing in the past is holding you back. While it might be a challenge to always be present, you can start small.

If you have ever found yourself at home thinking about what you need to do at work, or at work thinking about things happening in your personal life, you know how distracting it is.

Think back on the events in your life that you vividly remember, those magical moments. Those are the events where you were living in the moment. Even though years have passed, you can still remember the details.

Living in the moment is easy during special times in your life. However, most days don't contain special events, and unless you learn to live in the moment, worry, fear, resentments or other distractions will rob you of your life.

Wayne Dyer in his many books talks about the compulsion some people have of always wanting more before they can be happy - more money, a better house, a fancier car, a better spouse, etc. Those people never get to a place of arriving - or enjoying the moment.

A good place to start is by asking yourself … "What if this is as good as it gets?" You might then realize that you have spent a huge part of your life fantasizing about the future, when things would get "better". So, if you let go of requiring that the future be any different, suddenly you can become content with what you have now." Assuming a better future awaits you implies that there is something wrong with now. To realize that right now is great is tremendously freeing. It leads to gratitude and a surge of energy and strength."

ACTIVITIES TO PRACTICE LIVING IN THE MOMENT
Living in the moment takes practice because you are used to being distracted. Make a special effort to consciously practice being totally immersed in what you are doing for some time every day. Here are some ideas to get you started.

TAKE A BUBBLE BATH
Play some soft music. Relax and feel the warmth of the water. Just think of how you are enjoying the moment.

DRIVE A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO WORK
As you drive, notice the scenes around you. Going a different way will also help you concentrate on your surroundings.

EAT A GOURMET MEAL AT A FANCY RESTAURANT
Set aside money for your special dinner so that you won't feel guilty about spending the money. You will experience living in the moment as you enjoy the total experience of the atmosphere, the service, the people you are with, and the delicious food.

PLAY A SPORT SUCH AS TENNIS
You have to concentrate and be aware of everything that is happening at the moment. There isn't time to lament over the last shot because another one is coming right back at you.

DANCE TO YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC
You will become immersed in the music as your body moves to it, and you will begin to feel vibrant and alive.

PLAY CARD GAMES
When you play games such as bridge or poker, you have to concentrate or you risk losing the game.

ENJOY A CREATIVE HOBBY
Painting, woodwork, or crafts will absorb all your attention as you focus on your creation.

TAKE A VACATION
Holidays are rejuvenating and energizing because you are physically away from the day-to-day cares of living and totally immersed in sight seeing or other vacation activities.

LOOK AT THE FUNNY SIDE OF LIFE
Notice how people who are always preoccupied with worry, resentment or other things don't usually have a sense of humor. Having a sense of humor requires living in the moment because you have to look all around for the funny things that are happening.

KEEP A JOURNAL
At the end of each day, write about the moments when you were totally present. Every week review your journal. Doing this, will encourage you to concentrate on what you are doing. Eventually, living in the moment will become a habit that will add happiness, enthusiasm, and vitality to your days.

In seizing the moments of your life you extend their value and allow each to create magic. You see each as a miracle and know that within them lies the importance of life. Life is not full of quantity time but full of quality time. It is up to each of us to recognize the quality within each moment and to allow it to shine throughout our day. This alone will begin to change our world.

The truth of life is that all you have is today. Yesterday is only vapor and tomorrow will never come. Today is the timeline of your life and each moment contains the essence of your being. Allow this essence to shine brightly by allowing others to see its fullness for each moment is a gift that is given to you just for being who you are.

Stop all your activity and be thankful for each moment by recognizing its importance to your life. Celebrate the fact that you are alive and can see the wonder contained within each moment of your life. Stop all your excuses. Become aware. Seek the beauty of each event and allow the majesty of your life to be known.

Each moment is a crystal in formation. It is the seed of your future and as such gives power to what may seem like a lost second but in reality is a chrysalis waiting to be opened. It is energy waiting to be born and the gift you give to your future. Each moment is a capsule of love just eager to be seen amid the chaos of an ever noisy world.

As often as you can, pay complete attention to everything in your immediate surroundings, and keep your thoughts to the moment at hand. Set aside your anxieties about next week's meeting or tomorrow's dental appointment. Spend your energy on the awareness of your breath, your muscles when you walk, the texture and smell of what you eat or drink. Listen intently to every conversation, without any expectations, without finishing anyone else's sentences, without preparing your rebuttal. Even everyday chores warrant your full focus, whether you're writing a dissertation or washing dishes.

Be aware of your surroundings. Notice the color of flowers, the scent of rain, even the gum on the sidewalk. Pay attention to what is happening at every moment, but don't fight what is. Accept that there is a long line at the post office, but don't let it upset you. After all, there's nothing you can do about it anyway. By simply accepting each moment as if you have chosen it, you'll be surprised at what the day has to offer you. Perhaps that time on the post office line will offer a moment of mediation, a lesson in patience, or an enjoyable session of people watching.

Free yourself from the boredom of every day life by opening the window to your tomorrows. Seek the ever present opportunities that surround you and begin to change your world. See each moment as you would a work of art and search within them for the ideals you wish to be. It is your life to build out of the many moments you are given. Allow each moment to fashion a life of choice for within each moment is the miracle of creation.

You'll find that by living in the moment, you'll be calmer, probably more productive, and most importantly, more content with life!

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