Living in the present: what does it mean?

It seems rather easy to understand at first:

Life only takes place right now.

My life is unfolding at this exact moment — while I type/read these words.

Conceptually, we all understand that the past is gone and the future is not here yet. So when I ask people what it means to “live in the present moment,” most define it as “now”. But then comes the difficult part: to actually live life in the present.

It’s harder than it seems.

How many times have you driven home from work, without remembering the actual trip? How often do you go out for a run or a walk and find yourself thinking about something else?

Perhaps you got into an argument with your boss earlier in the day or you’re upset at your children for something they didn't do. Your relaxation time is then spent ruminating over past experiences.

What about the act of worrying? Have you ever caught yourself consumed by fear over something that may or may not occur in the future? I am for sure guilty of it...

I’m sure we can all identify with some of these scenarios because our minds are remarkable pieces of machinery that think continuously But if I go out for a walk and spend the entire time daydreaming about something else, am I really living in the present moment?

Just a few days ago I went for a walk in my local park. The surroundings were beautiful and being out in nature always nourishes my soul.

Yet, it dawned on me when I got home that I had spent an hour walking on auto-pilot.

I didn’t recall listening to the birds or looking at the gorgeous view or at people. I spent the entire time immersed in the movies of my brain. I was actually walking while remembering a conversation I had days before.

Not only was I remembering the dialogue, but I was adding more words, things I should have said or done... Life was unfolding right before my very eyes (if I had bothered to look) while I was stuck in the fantasies of my brain.

Great!

I can already hear a faint protest:

“What’s wrong with letting the mind wander? You still got your exercise in!”

Well, yes, I did burn some calories and toned my legs.

But do you see what I missed?

I missed the birds, the trees, the dogs, the movement of the clouds above, my breath, my heartbeat, the scent of summer flowers, the gentle touch of the sun on my face. I traded all that for my mind movies.

Now, does that seem at all like a fair trade? In essence, for a whole hour, I missed Life. I missed a sliver of time in my life that I cannot get back.

But there is hope! All we have to do to live life in the present — the only place where life actually occurs — is to be more mindful of everything we do.

Be the watcher of thought.

Recognize that you’re the consciousness/awareness that lies beyond the endless activity of the brain. Observe your thoughts from a distance and then redirect your attention to whatever you’re doing at that precise moment. That’s exactly what I did on my walk the very next day.

It’s easier to start practicing mindfulness by focusing first on your external environment. I paid attention to the birds, the trees, the people, the scenery.

But then I focused on what renowned Buddhist teacher Thick Nhat Han calls the “anchor” of the present moment:

The breath.

I listened to and felt my breathing with every step. And suddenly, the world became more alive and my mind quieted down.

Try it.

Every single time you find yourself immersed in your mind movies, stop for just a second and focus on your breath. Take a deep breath in through your nose and look around you. Then slowly release the breath.

In just a few seconds it takes to inhale and exhale, you will quite literally feel life change. And that’s when you’ll be living in the present.

Now is your turn.

How easy is it for you to live in the present? What exercises or tools have you learned that may help others quiet their minds down?

Let me know when we meet or in the comments section below.

Lots of love in, lots of love out,

Rosie