"Living in the Moment"

"Living in the Moment"

Being in the moment, living in the moment, can actually be defined as follows: being aware of yourself, being aware of other people, being aware of your surroundings and events, being aware of everything… The only way to be aware is to stop and analyze while everyone else is moving along, while life goes on, and while everything is flowing.

Who shapes tomorrow? We do. When do we do it? We do it now. Our choices, our thoughts, and our character shape our future at every moment. That’s why living in the moment is the key to happiness and success.

A person stuck in the past constantly thinks about the negative things they’ve experienced. Over time, these thoughts turn into shackles weighing them down. Or let’s consider someone who lives only in the future. They put everything off, saying, “I’ll do this, I’ll do that.” But if you don’t do what’s necessary now, if you don’t try to take the necessary steps, you won’t get there. You have to be here now and take the steps necessary for tomorrow so that you can reach that tomorrow. You can’t move forward by standing still—you won’t reach tomorrow that way.

THE LESSONS SHOULD STAY WITH YOU

The secret to success, living a good life, communicating better with others, and being happy is living in the moment. People who live in the past are often unhappy. This is because they constantly replay past events—especially the negative ones—in their minds, reenacting them over and over again, and thus miss out on the present. When we replay an event from the past over and over in our minds, the brain doesn’t just remind us of the event—it also makes us feel the emotions we experienced at that moment. Under the influence of these negative emotions, the body releases the same hormones. When you recall an event from the past that frightened you, your heart rate increases, and your body’s adrenaline levels rise. You end up making your body experience the same effects over and over again. The same events are replayed right down to your cells. You become unhappy—both mentally and physically—time and time again. Constantly remembering a positive event from the past can sometimes be good, but other times it isn’t. Thinking things like, “I used to be very rich but I’m not anymore,” or “I used to have a very happy relationship but now I’m alone,” won’t do you any good and will only make you unhappy. Whether the events from the past were positive or negative, you should learn your lesson and let the rest go. The only things that should remain in your mind regarding the past are the lessons you’ve learned.

A character in “It doesn’t matter to me” mode doesn’t dwell on past events. Whenever they come to mind, the character remains in a relaxed state. Without replaying them over and over in their mind, they calmly let the memories go. They always remember the lessons they’ve learned. They don’t let the past undermine or negatively affect the present or the future.

DON'T BE ONE OF THOSE WHO WASTE TODAY

In addition to those who live in the past, there are also those who squander the present out of anxiety about the future. Those who fear the future live in constant dread. Obsessed with what might happen tomorrow, they fail to assess the events of today with a pessimistic mindset. They ruin their present by worrying, “What if this happens? What if that happens?” A pessimistic person believes that the future is uncertain and will always bring bad things. They project this belief onto everything in their life. They never expect anything good from the future. They doubt every step ahead. “The economy is good right now, but what if it gets bad in the coming days…?” “My relationship is good right now, but what if they cheat on me and I end up unhappy…?” “I get along great with my friend, but what if they stab me in the back…?” These thoughts also undermine their self-confidence; they can’t do what they need to do today, and most importantly, they can’t be happy today. Worrying about the future doesn’t make anyone happy today either.

On the other hand, a character in “I don’t care” mode interprets the uncertainty of the future in a positive light. They always expect good things from the future. They are full of hope. They never want to deprive themselves of the wonderful things the future will bring, and they remain alert and mindful at all times to stay open to opportunities. The experiences of yesterday, what today brings, and what the future holds always excite and delight them. Whenever they think about their future, they feel a sense of joy.

A character in “It doesn’t matter to me” mode, when faced with the need to take a step toward their future, neither adopts a pessimistic attitude nor indulges in unrealistic, rose-colored fantasies. They always make realistic assessments of their future and set goals accordingly. Their expectations for the future are also objective and realistic. They have no anxiety about the future because they have complete confidence in themselves. “If a problem arises, I’ll solve it just as I’ve done before—it doesn’t matter to me,” they say.