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Oftentimes the present moment doesn't get the attention it really needs to. In our particular perspective and part of the world, we often future-pace, thinking more about the future than about the present.

Focusing on the Present

For all individuals to wake up from their unawareness or mindless activities, we must accept this very present moment. We are in bondage to time and it controls us. This means that we are fearful of the past, worried about the future, and never in this very present moment. Our consciousness, our thoughts or awareness, are usually trapped in regrets of the past, meaning we’re regretting something that happened years ago, or wishing we had taken advantage of time in the past, captivated by remorse.

Conversely, we get caught in anxiety or anxiousness about the future moments. We ponder: questions like:

• Will I find my soulmate? 
• Will I be able to get the financial independence I desire? 
• Will I die alone?

A lot of our consciousness day in and day out is either caught in the past, regrets, or future tripping, anxious about our tomorrows. As a result, we are never in this present moment, and we sacrifice when we're caught up in our past or anxious moments of our future. The worst part? We sacrifice it to overwhelming emotions that are neither constructive nor worthwhile. The past has happened - it's gone. The future is uncertain and changes constantly. Worrying about either of these is a great way to bring about negative feelings associated with fear because of the ticking clock. The only existing moment in time is right now.

Allowing yourself to experience the present moment means living life to its fullest. Now is the best place to be, because philosophically, it's the only real place where we exist. Being present is made more powerful when we learn to add value to it. 

Savoring the Moment for More Positive Emotions

When experts say that your life is determined by you, for you, it is true. Researchers conducted a nine-week study about mindfulness and savoring the moment and found those with a “greater perceived ability to savor the moment predicted higher levels of daily positive emotions” (Kiken et al., 2017). 

We find out how to respond to situations we are confronted with because we are aware of our own feelings. When you understand that no one can harm you emotionally unless you let them, it becomes a shield that helps you move forward in the present moment. A wise person once told me “you will never be negatively impacted by a negative gift unless you accept it.” By being more mindful, you can prevent external negativity from clouding your mind and heart. 

Your today is a product of what you did yesterday. If you are not happy with your now, then you did not pay enough attention to your needs yesterday. So, take advantage of the present to set yourself up for a better tomorrow. Consider what you are investing your time and energy into and if you would like to change it. Let go of residual feelings, like past regrets and resentments. Focus on making yourself feel happy right now, in this very moment. And you know what? You will be happier.

When clinicians work with clients that are anxious, we literally show them how to move through those negative emotional experiences by being more in the present moment and focusing on their body's natural breathing patterns and how to restore natural breathing rather than excited breathing. Simplify your now and slow down your present. Take a breath. Exhale.

This is the only moment we have, whether anxious or peaceful, whether we're consciously aware or whether we just noticed that we were daydreaming and not even in the present moment. Learning to savor the moment then use it wisely is the true blessing in life. 

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References

Kiken, L. G., Lundberg, K. B., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2017). Being present and enjoying it: Dispositional mindfulness and savoring the moment are distinct, interactive predictors of positive emotions and psychological health. Mindfulness. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0704-3