How to Live in the NOW !

Once you understand the nature of your own thinking the fact that you are the one manufacturing your own thoughts - and they are just thoughts – you would have created the needed distance from your own thinking to keep your attention in the ‘here and now’.

Whereas, if you feel the need to follow every train of thought, you will be too busy either in the future or in the past – chasing and analysing various forms of negativity that may have entered your mind.

Remember, low moods will always promote negative, pessimistic thinking and while in your low mood you will feel a tremendous sense of urgency – a feeling that you need to do something to get away from the way you are feeling.

In low moods, insecure thoughts will dominate your consciousness. The very best you can do is to distrust, dismiss and ignore your thoughts when you are in a low mood state. You must understand that life will always look serious, urgent and problematic when you are feeling low. You must expect this to be the case and be prepared in advance.

If you don’t distrust your thinking when you are in a low mood – your problems will seem too urgent, for you to remain in the “here and now “and you will feel as though, you need to speculate as to how you are going to escape being in a low mood state.

Living in the moment means that you are choosing to focus your attention on what is happening right now, and you enjoy and appreciate this.

Living in ‘rumination mode ‘means that instead of immersing yourself in the now, you are speculating about the future or rehashing the past. Children are the best examples of those who fully absorb themselves in the current moment. But as an adult, you may have got into the habit of allowing a difficult past and future concerns to squeeze the life out of your present moment.

3 Ways to become more oriented to living in the NOW -

• Instead of reviewing past mistakes, learn from them and move forward. When something goes wrong ask yourself – not – why is this happening to me, but, what is this here to teach me.
• When negative thoughts enter your mind learn to view them the same way you would see ants at a picnic – I am sure you will agree the ants are a distraction that you can ignore in order to enjoy your picnic. You would certainly prefer the ants not to be at your picnic - but you would not let them ruin a perfect day out.
• Instead of looking for potential problems try to look for lessons.