Getting caught up in the possibilities of the future and regrets of the past are normal and usually take over the thought process on a daily basis. The best way to live a meaningful and positive life is to stay present daily and live in the moment. It may sound corny, but I find people who live in the present are truly happy with life. Most people spend their time looking ahead or thinking about the past, all the while they miss what is happening right now.
Find joy and be mindful in the daily tasks of life: making coffee, brushing your teeth, showering, or even cooking dinner. While most look at completing these tasks as routine and time consuming, you can live a full life by staying present during what most consider the mundane parts of life.
When cooking, feel the knife when cutting vegetables. When making coffee, try a French press and focus on each step as you get closer to the end result, and then enjoy each sip. Really taste it and think about what had to be done to allow you to drink that glorious cup of joe. It may take some mindful practice to stay present daily, but below are a few easy steps to help jumpstart your journey.
4 Simple Steps to Stay Present Daily
Listen:
Stay engaged in conversation and REALLY listen. Don’t be distracted by your phone, laptop, or the environment around you, it’ll still be there when you are done. I’ve been in plenty of conversations where the other party is clearly elsewhere in their mind, and it isn’t a great feeling. By listening and being attentive in conversation, you will no doubt learn something and your conversation partner will feel you care.
Pause:
Take moments during the day to pause and look around. The world moves fast and it’s easy to fall into the trap of keeping up and going full throttle. We are taught to finish a task and move on to whatever is next and then repeat. Pausing for brief moments during the day can help reset your mind and focus, and bring more awareness to what is happening.
Slow Down:
Similar to taking a pause, slowing down will help you realize life is pretty great. Think of what had to happen to even allow you to be here today, let alone you being healthy and able enough to be reading this post right now. Slow down when eating your lunch. Slow down when talking to your family. Slow down when driving (literally and figuratively). When you slow down you’ll actually be able to look around and see what other people are missing.
Smile:
It’s amazing what a smile can do to turn around someone’s day. And this isn’t only reserved for those who you smile at either. When you smile you are passing out a positive vibe and it can be felt with a dopamine hit or rush of positivity inside your own brain. Happiness is contagious and spreading a little joy will make you feel more in tune with your surroundings.
Stay present daily and enjoy life. It goes by fast.
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