We are all in the eternal quest for happiness. Often, we find ourselves caught in the loop of past regrets and future anxieties, losing touch with the here and now. This article is intended to serve as a guide to finding contentment by grounding ourselves in the present moment.
What Triggers Your Anxiety, Anger, and Depression?
I found myself frequently falling into a state of anxiety and depression whenever I compared my future prospects to the luxurious lifestyles of successful people. Their opulent mansions and extravagant cars have always served as motivation but also instilled a sense of dissatisfaction with my current circumstances. Reflecting on past experiences often leads to self-sabotage, despite their occurrence in the past. The comparison of my life to others and harboring negative thoughts about my future and past generated a cycle of negativity. I realized I was failing to fully engage with the present moment, as I was constantly comparing my present to others.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, it's crucial to learn to embrace the present moment for a happier state of mind. Dwelling on the past or obsessing about the future will not bring joy, for, nothing truly happens in the past--it's happening in the present. The future also unfolds in the present, so engage fully with the now to create your happiness.
Thinking About Positive Features is Beneficial, But Are You Experiencing Happiness in the Current Moment?
Even if we achieve our goals, we often find ourselves wanting more. For instance, want to build a more attractive physique, or want to make more money. Even we achieved our initial objectives. Without focusing on the present moment, true happiness remains elusive, regardless of our accomplishments.
Understanding Psychological Time and Its Impact on Well-being
Psychological time refers to the mental preoccupation with the past and incessant projection into the future, whereas 'clock time' pertains to the practical aspects of our lives. Clock time involves setting appointments, planning trips, and importantly, learning from the past to avoid repeating mistakes.
To illustrate, if you make a mistake and use it as a learning experience, you're embracing the present moment. However, if you obsess over this mistake, allowing feelings of self-criticism, remorse, or guilt to surface, you become trapped in psychological time. This means you're letting it define your identity, which can negatively impact your mental well-being.
Similarly, setting a goal and working towards it in a balanced way means you are living in the present. You are aware of your desired destination but remain grounded in the immediate experience. Conversely, if you become excessively focused on the goal—perhaps in pursuit of happiness or fulfillment—clock time turns into psychological time.
If You're Extremely Unhappy with Your Life at the Moment and You Can't Be Happy by Being Present? Life vs. Life Situation
What you refer to saying 'life' should be called 'life situation'. Your 'life situation' is tied to psychological time. Past and feature, Certain things in the past didn't go the way you wanted them to go. You're still resisting what happened in the past, and what currently is.
Hope can be a driving force, but it also keeps us anchored to the future, which can perpetuate a denial of the present moment and thus, your unhappiness.
Forget about your life situation for a while and pay attention to your life
Do you have any problem at this moment? Not tomorrow or in five minutes, but now.
No matter if you have billing coming up tomorrow, or you just had a bad day. Tomorrow and yesterday's problems are not today's problems, it's not NOW. Not at this moment. Loss of now is the problem. if you neglect the current moment. You will never be happy.
Ask yourself, do you have a problem right now? Not a problem that might happen tomorrow or one that happened five minutes ago, but right now. Even if you have bills due tomorrow or had a bad day yesterday, those are not problems now. The danger is in losing touch with the present moment. If you overlook the present, true happiness can remain elusive.
If you are full of problems, there's no space for anything new, no space for a solution. So, make some space and find life underneath your life situation.
Techniques for Being Present
1, Be in the Moment
Notice all the details of your surroundings - light, shapes, colors, textures. Listen to the sounds without judgment. Touch something and be aware of its existence. Pay attention to your breathing patterns and the energy within you. All these actions will help you stay in the present.
2, Mindful Movements
Practice mindfulness during everyday activities. For example, when you're walking or washing your hands, focus on each step, the sound of water, your hand movements, or the soap's scent. Total presence can enhance the experience.
3, Body Awareness
Try to keep your attention on your body as much as possible. Feel your inner body – from your organs and cells to your limbs. Feel the energy within you. Your hands, arms, feet, legs, chest, and so on. Feel your life energy from your body parts. By doing this, you anchor yourself in the present moment, preventing your thoughts and emotions from overwhelming you.
4, Meditation
Find a quiet, undisturbed space. Sit comfortably with a straight spine. Close your eyes and take deep breaths, focusing on how your abdomen expands and contracts with each inhale and exhale.
5, Pre-sleep or Morning Routine
Before you go to sleep or when you wake up, lie flat and close your eyes. Concentrate on different parts of your body, feeling the energy within. Spend 15 seconds on each part, then let your focus flow through your body like a wave from feet to head and back again.
By following these techniques, you can learn to be more present and improve your overall sense of well-being.
6, Watch Your Thoughts and Don't Participate it When It Arises
To be in the present moment, we need to let go of our thoughts. We often get distracted by our thoughts, but when a thought arises in our mind, simply observe it without participating in it. We usually get caught up in these thoughts, continuing to engage with them. However, it's better to refrain from getting entangled and just see through them.
Conclusion
Remember, nothing truly happens in the past or future—life happens only in the present moment. True contentment comes from living in the now. By appreciating the present moment for what it is, we can free ourselves from the shackles of the past and the uncertainties of the future. This article provides insights and techniques to help us embrace the present moment and discover the happiness that lies within it.
"The greatest gift you can give someone is your presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers." - Thich Nhat Hanh.
Embrace the power of presence and let the flower of happiness bloom within you. The journey to contentment starts right here, right now.