Be In The Present Moment And Find More Happiness

Today, I was reminded of a saying that I haven’t heard in awhile.  Here it is.

‘If you are depressed, then you are living in the past.  If you are anxious, then you are living in the future.’  

Either way, you’re not taking the time to be in the present moment.

When you spend your time each day in regret, anger or sadness over something that has already happened, then you’re living in the past and are depressed.  While this is common for so many of you, just as many of you are worrying about something that hasn’t even happened and thus are living in the future.  Finally, some of you have both the depression and the anxious thoughts.  No matter which way you are inclined, if you live in the past or the future, then you are missing out on the present moment.

To be in the present moment is really all that we have.  

Being aware of what is happening right here and right now brings an amazing focus to your life.  This is where it often goes wrong. Distractions happen. You’re thoughts go the past as you mull over something that has happened already. Then, you’re mind starts to think about the future and things that haven’t happened yet. Your mind is VERY good at traveling back & forth to the future and the past.

When you choose to be in the present moment it doesn’t matter so much what happened 10 minutes or 10 days ago.  You are focused on what is happening right now.  This right now focus also takes away the worry about what might happen in the future.  Focusing on right now, lets the future take care of itself. After all, right now is really all we have anyway!

It’s not so easy!

This sounds easy and great way to live your life, right?  

From my own experience, I know that it’s not always so easy.  Sometimes an event happens and I can’t quite let it go.  When this happens, I am stuck in something that happened in the past.  This usually leads to negative types of feelings and can lead to a more depressed state of mind. I don’t really enjoy this type of thinking.  If I get stuck in this loop of negativity, then I start to put it out into the world.  Then, I see more and more things as negative.  It’s a loop that feeds on itself unless I do something specific to stop it.

While I’m not a big worrier, there are times when I feel a bit of anxiety about something that is possibly going to happen in the future.  Thinking about a future event and worrying whether it will go the way that I want is not very helpful either.  Again, it doesn’t lead to feelings that I enjoy.  The anxious feelings tend to make me feel more irritable and I get less fun to be around.  It also can be it’s own loop that feeds on itself unless I do something to bring it to a halt.

Find focus and peace.

When I am able to be in the present moment, I am so much happier!  I’m calmer and I feel more at peace.  I can focus on what is right in front of me.  The past is less important and the future hasn’t happened so I don’t give it undue thought.  Living in the present moment is a great place to be.  I can think clearly.  I can enjoy what is happening right now.  I appreciate what I have and what I’m able to do.

If living in the present is such a great place to be, then how do you get there?

If you’re stuck in a loop of negativity or are depressed and living in the past, then one thing that you can do is to have a practice of gratitude.  Take some time to write down what you are grateful for in this very moment.  It doesn’t have to be a long list.  Maybe you only write down 1 or 2 things.  That’s ok.  It can be enough to begin to break this negativity cycle.  It will be an even stronger practice if you commit to practicing this every day.

If you’re stuck in the future with anxious thoughts, then one thing you can do to be in the present moment is to focus on your breath.  Take 5 minutes to just sit or walk around while you take some deep breaths.  After a few breaths, ask yourself “What’s happening right now?”   Begin to bring your focus to the present.  You can repeat this practice throughout the day.  Anytime that the anxious thoughts come back, take a breath and ask yourself again, “What’s happening right now?”  This will bring your focus back to the present and help to stop the worry about the future.  Slowly, you can begin to break this cycle of anxiety.  Even if it’s for only a few moments, you’ll have the chance to enjoy a pause from the anxious thoughts.  You’ll get to see yourself in a more relaxed state that is focused on the present moment and you’ll reap the benefits from having a calmer mind.

Both of these tricks can have long term benefits if you practice them consistently.  They may not be enough to completely break you out of a cycle of depression or anxiety.  However, if they can give you relief for even a few minutes, then it’s worth practicing them.

I know I’ve used these techniques for a long time.  I have a daily practice of gratitude and I go back to my breath often throughout the day.  They’ve become habits that I actually enjoy practicing.  Give them a try and let me know if you’re noticing any benefits or living in the present moment more often.

If you need more help learning how to reduce anxiety or depression, then schedule a discovery call with me. Let’s chat about how yoga therapy can help you.

Becky is a Yoga Therapist & has been teaching yoga since 2006. She loves to match people with a yoga practice that helps them to feel better every day & believes that there is a yoga practice for everyone. Click here to sign up for her mailing list & get all of the important news & tips first!