Lately, I find myself desiring passion and an emotionally fulfilling life, not that I didn’t have it before, I just had the sudden urge to have more!… I don’t know if you can relate, but have you ever been in a place in your life when you want to maximize every second of your day? Where if you are drinking coffee, you want to drink the ass off of that coffee, savoring every sip and relishing in the moment?… well I can… I am at a stage in my life, or a phase, I don’t know, but lately I feel like every insect, every sunset is so magical, special and magnificent… I know they are important, but I never really paid that much attention… Now, I’m living every day, the best way I can, I am taking my life a day at a time, even though I’m not living out my dreams, nor is everything perfect, but I want to be happy and remember this phase of my life.… for some reason, I cannot remember some parts of my life, it’s like I wasn’t living… I don’t want to be in a space where all I can think of is the future, or when I cannot recall what I did the day before….

Living in the moment is a challenge, trust me!… I have been trying for years to do this to no avail, and when I stopped trying, it just happened… If you want to live in the moment and take every day a step at a time or just to pause and smell the roses, here are a few tips to help you along:

1. Be Present

A lot of persons may say, what is so hard about being present, but many people spend less than 1% of their time being fully present. Being present means that when you are in a situation, place, doing something or talking to someone, every part of you is there in that space at that time, your body, your mind, your emotions, everything. Being present is being physically and psychologically available and aware of yourself and your surroundings at a given moment.

You can ensure that you are being present by making sure that you first identify which state/frame of mind you are in, whether it is the past, present, or future. Once you realize which time frame you are in, you can shift your thoughts to your current situation.

2. Take a Breather

This one is very hard, especially for persons with 9 to 5s and kids, etc. It is hard to stop and breathe when you are doing something that is urgent or you are in a crunch for time. It however, is not an hour-long activity, you don’t need even 15mins. You just need to find a calm space where you can center yourself, stop thinking, planning, or running down your to-do list. Simply clear your mind, take deep breaths, sit still for a minute. You can even whisper a brief prayer. This simple 2 minute exercise will surprisingly make you more productive and give you a clear view of where you are and what you are expected to do. This simple task may even help reduce stress.

3. Have Some Me Time

I am a pleaser. I love to know that the people around me are comfy; I do what I can to make them feel better. I am also a workaholic. If I stay home one day, I freak out and want to go back to work. I don’t take me-time as often as I should. Me time is essential to maintain one’s sanity and individuality. We get bombarded with what we need to do, what we need to be, how we need to look, we hear and digest everyone’s opinion except our own. Taking me time is when you re-tune yourself, go back on your own speed, your own thoughts. It is where you can analyze yourself, seeing what you have accomplished for a particular period and what you need to do.

Take me time by taking a day or a few hours off, walk around your neighborhood, go on a hike, or just go out to dinner or a to library on your own. May sure that you stay clear of all white noises, turn off your cell, laptop or TV. Whatever it is you choose to do, make sure that you can hear yourself think, that you can breathe and enjoy your own company.

4. Be Optimistic

Optimism is in short supply nowadays. With almost all economies failing and self actualization banished to a mythical land, people are not as hopeful for their future as they once were. Failure and unhappiness become reality and fulfillment and happiness, a dream. However, in order to live your best life and live in the moment, one must be optimistic, however hard it is. Optimism helps to reduce stress, promotes happiness, gives you reason to live, increases longevity, improves your ability to deal with failure, and increases your mental flexibility, etc. Having optimism is never a bad thing, it benefits you more to be optimistic than not.

5. Embrace Yourself, Qualms & All

With the advent of social media, we are constantly bombarded with images and videos of people living great lives, lives that we want but cannot have. There is a constant flow of information steering us in a particular direction as it relates to deportment and behavior etc. Regardless of who you are, however unattractive or weird you think you may be, embrace yourself, accept yourself because there is no one like you. No one behaves like you do, or thinks the way you do. If you have an “unusual” or “untraditional” taste or opinion about something, don’t be afraid to share them, don’t be afraid to “let your freak flag fly”, whatever your “freak” may be. Don’t be afraid to present yourself. As weird as you think you may be, someone will relate, someone will love you for you…

Whether you agree with the above statements/advice, don’t forget that life is too short to not live it exactly how you want. When your time on earth is done, will you be happy with the life you led? Will you be happy with the person you were?… Whatever you do,… never forget to LIVE IN THE MOMENT!

Hope you Enjoyed 🙂