At this present moment, I’m feeling good and enjoying it. This statement sounds simple but it can be a difficult thing to say, especially when our minds wander as much as they do. In our daily lives, our minds are in overdrive and often neglect the present moment. The average person has over 6,000 thoughts per day and within this stream, we’re constantly trying to make sense of the past and predict the future. It’s exhausting and it makes it difficult to know how to live in the present moment.
Speaking of the present, a global pandemic has been added to our stream of thoughts. When you’re not thinking about yourself and your loved ones getting infected, then you’re thinking about friends, neighbours, elders, the list goes on. Not to mention the effects on our jobs, relationships and daily life. It’s safe to say our minds have really gone through it, but we’re nearly on the other side, fingers crossed!
Moreover, thoughts that keep us imprisoned in the past and future, no matter how small they are, are unhealthy. We should take into account that the time spent hovering between the past and the future can leave us with little energy and less time to enjoy the present moment wisely and earnestly.
My reflections
Obsessing over the past made me lose focus on what’s actually in front of me, which resulted in missed opportunities in the present moment. The same goes for the future. Thinking too far ahead made me feel anxious and inadequate. When I noticed I was going in circles from worrying about the future and past, I decided to be kinder to myself and learned how to live in the present moment.
Firstly, I tried to be more grateful. I was in a fortunate position during a time where many people had lost their jobs or could not see family members. Even they remained optimistic and hopeful for better days. There was little to complain about, and for the most part – I didn’t. However, I was burying issues under the familiar facade of ‘everything’s okay’ but enough was enough. Everything wasn’t okay and it was time to do something about it. It was time to stop holding myself back and learn how to live in the present moment.
Gaining inspiration
I wrote down everything I was grateful for and began to identify what I was missing. Something that stuck out was peace of mind. I started to think about how to live in the present moment, be my best self and enjoy life. I did most of this work myself but also used YouTube to gain inspiration from self-help gurus and motivational channels.
Near this time, I was also given a book by my sister called Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King. It was perfect timing as there was a chapter called ‘Awareness of the Present’. In it, King advises on how to live in the present moment and laments on society’s constant use of technology and little engagement with the real world, in real-time.
King also highlights the beauty of being present. He highlights that “tomorrow comes disguised as today, and some of us don’t even notice. Nothing is more valuable than the present because you can never get it back… Planning for the future is vital in order to meet your goals, but we shouldn’t spend too much time there”. Preach!
Taking steps
Early on from reading this book, I had already started lessening my time on social media and was more aware of my screen activity. I felt more connected with my reality, making his words even truer. Reading was great but I wanted to practice mindfulness too. Doing more research, it was clear I would have to adopt a spiritual lifestyle.
Although I love self-development and self-improvement, surprisingly I didn’t see myself as a spiritual person. I’ve always loved the concept of spirituality but it felt so far removed from my reality. I didn’t feel like I had time to sit, meditate and align my chakras. Everything felt too fast-paced but I knew it would help on my journey to being more mindful.
Funny enough, I was already doing things that were attributed to a spiritual lifestyle. I have a journal where I write down thoughts, goals, quotes, and what I am thankful for. Gratitude journals are highly recommended in the spiritual community. Also, something I started to dabble in but did not experience in its entirety was mindfulness meditation. Meditation was one thing that was difficult for me to do and wrap my head around. Nonetheless, the main aim of the art is to slow down your thoughts, so that you are more aware of them. This turned out to be a great way to take a step back and relax my mind.
Meditation
There is a lot about meditation and its benefits in the media, so much so, that it’s become the number one tool used to practice mindfulness. This video on YouTube talks you through it, which is great for beginners. There are also well-known apps like Headspace and Calm, that can help you pay attention and stay present.
After including this in my daily routine, I began engaging with the practice in the media more. One interesting video I found was an interview I saw on YouTube, of a music label exec turned social entrepreneur. His name is Jesse Israel, and he founded a mass-meditation movement called the The Big Quiet. In my own surroundings, I got introduced to a meditation session at my workplace, which takes place once a week.
Despite its increasing popularity and rave reviews, especially amongst millennials, mindfulness meditation takes a lot of practice. It can be really difficult to get used to but it’s worth a try if you need an anchor to stay focused on the present. You can start small by being in the moment when doing something mundane, such as washing the dishes or brushing your teeth. This works by paying attention to the activity you’re performing, without losing focus. It all starts by spending time on where you should be more present.
What does it all mean?
As we embark on what will hopefully be the end of a national lockdown, it’s been an eye-opening time to remember to just enjoy life in the present moment. One reason we tend to not know how to live in the present moment is that our thoughts are where we actually want to be. Therefore, where you can, prioritise your personal growth by questioning yourself often and being self-aware.
Start by asking yourself questions like am I where I need to be right now? Or, could I be doing more to make my future self happier? The answers may not come quickly, but once you solve them, you can then begin to live in the moment wisely and earnestly.
Live your best life
As you walk away from reading all these words, I hope things have become clearer. Staying in the present moment is about having clarity when you need it most. It’s also about being able to enjoy the moments that matter to you. So, enjoy life! Life can be stressful but try and do something that makes you happy often. Give yourself a reason to smile and have a great moment!
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Written by Ruka Akorede
Illustrated by Francesca Mariama
