Be In The Moment – Tips To Live In The Moment

One of the biggest keys to being a happy person is to be in the moment … or, said another way … to live in the moment.

What Does “Live In The Moment” Mean?

It means to not get distracted by other things: the past, the future, etc — and to truly enjoy each God-given moment you are experiencing.

If you can’t be in the moment … if you can’t LIVE in the moment … then you’ll never be happy.

A Huge Barrier To Happiness …

Here’s an AMAZING quote I recently found:

“How small a portion of our life it is that we really enjoy! In youth we are looking forward to things that are to come; in old age we are looking backward to things that are gone past; in manhood, although we appear indeed to be more occupied in things that are present, yet even that is too often absorbed in vague determinations to be vastly happy on some future day when we have time.”

– Charles Caleb Colton

I was like WOW when I first read that quote, because it rang true for me on so many levels …

For a large part of my life, I was NOT living in the moment:

• When I was around 10-12 I remember trying to get into different sports, or not being able to go to gyms, or other things like that where you had to be 12 years old — and although I was very “grown up” for my age — I remember being barred from such activities and REALLY hoping to get older quicker so I could do these things and “finally be happy”…
• In my teens, during high school, all I could wait for was the day high school was over — so I could finally be “happy” …
• Then I was hoping and praying to turn 18 faster, so I could finally “do all the things that will make me happy”  …
• Then after I was 18 and graduated, I was hoping and praying to turn 21 before I could “enjoy myself” …
• Then from the period of about 17 — 19 years old I was “waiting to be happy” when I got a “good job”, then later when I started working for myself “when my business takes off” …

Around 19-21, The Past Few Years, I’ve Learned To Live In The Moment …

And it’s made all the difference in the world.

For me at least, I’ve always been a very goal-oriented person. I see something I want to accomplish/have and I start working towards it until I get it.

This is a great thing because all progress depends on people like this … but it also has a “hidden pitfall” … where you think to yourself “I’m not going to be happy until I get this goal/achieve this/become this thing”

And this is dangerous thinking for a number of reasons:

1. None of us are promised tomorrow, I may never “get” what I’m after …
2. Happiness is not an “event”, it’s an on-going process …
3. It keeps you from being truly happy in the moment …

It’s A “Zen Riddle” …

It’s almost a zen riddle, when you think about it. You need to learn to be highly motivated to achieve more and more in this life … while at the same time … to be completely and totally content and happy with your current circumstances and the present moment.

If you can’t balance this delicate dichotomy, this “yin & yang” of contentment VS ambition … then you’re probably going to live a miserable life.

EXAMPLE: I know I’ve heard one story of a guy who owned 2o something auto parts stores. He was having lunch with a friend and all he could do was complain about all the hassles of owning the stores, being wealthy (taxes and responsibilites and such) and how bad his health was from all the constant stress. Yet at the same time, all he could talk about was opening his next store and how he would be happier when he got it.

Another example comes from my own life. I remember hearing my dad at many points growing up talk about he’d “be happy when such and such happens … ” and this is a dangerous attitude.

Be IN The Moment — That’s The Answer!

The only way to live on this edge, to balance these two forces is to be goal oriented, strive every day to achieve a future task … but at the same time, while you’re striving … to live in the moment and enjoy the present.

Some people say “enjoy the journey, it’s half the fun of getting there!” & I’ve found that to be true. If I looked back on the early years of building my business as a “waste” because it didn’t happen as fast as I liked — I would be doing myself a disservice.

Those were some AMAZING years. Living on my own. Amazing women, amazing friends, a LOT of mischief & fun. It’s those things that are really important … you just have to remember to:

1. STOP
2. Take a Deep Breath
3. Think of Everything You’re Grateful For and Smile

That’s the key. Sometimes you need to slow down to really enjoy this life … or you just might miss it.

Jesus Himself said (in Matthew 6:34):

“Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.”

So if you want to be more happy … if you want to be more stress-free … if you want to look back on your life with fond memories and smile … then you need to be in the moment — you need to LIVE in the moment each and every day as you continually strive for more and more success in your life!