How to be more present and Alive in the moment?
Throughout my life, I have been productive and efficient in accomplishing tasks. However, I have not given much thought to saving for retirement or building a steady career and future. My insatiable curiosity to explore various occupations has kept me engaged and thriving. My unconventional journey has included starting as a nurse and eventually becoming a mental health counselor, with several other positions in between.
I loved every one of my jobs.
My entire life is filled with challenges, and I took them seriously, and I think I was good at them.
As a result of COVID’s impact, I’ve been prioritizing a slower pace and mindfulness. This approach opposes the societal pressure of constant consumption and labor until one’s health declines or death. I view it as an enriching challenge.
I strive to embrace the present moment, seek out joy and happiness, and foster a sense of gratitude. My ideal life is not dictated by societal norms, but rather one that is fulfilling and pleasurable. I long for more adventure and authentic joy, particularly when surrounded by those I cherish most – my spouse, child, relatives, and close companions.
I freaking love this.
The Secret of Health for Both Mind and Body is Not to Mourn for The Past, Worry About the Future, or Anticipate Troubles, But to Live The Present Moment Wisely and Earnestly. – Buddha
So, how do we do it?
I have some ideas.
Get Immersed in What You Do.
I always give my all to any task I undertake. I fully immerse myself in the work. For instance, when I enlisted in the military, I selected 68R as my MOS. Though the job was not particularly stimulating, I put in the effort and ended up receiving two awards for my work.
Express your Emotions
My mom would call me unstable, unpredictable, aggressive, and too spontaneous because I would express my emotions when I was younger. People may not Express Feelings because it is a sign of weakness. The world trained us very young that expressing or even feeling anger or sadness is not OK. So we grow up as experts in camouflaging our emotions, barely letting us feel any emotions, which later become a problem because we never learn how to deal with them.
Who did not express anger or sadness physically at some point, like punching a pillow or yelling your head off in the wood or at the beach? Or crying, like there is no tomorrow? I did it many times, and it’s good. Although it’s not just anger and sadness, it also expresses pain, frustration, and disgust. When we express our emotions fully and physically in our bodies, we unleash our vitality.https://positivepsychology.com/express-emotions/
Open your Damn Heart
Most of us move through our days with our hearts closed. We do our tasks and go through the motions but aren’t connected to our hearts. What would it be like to be open-hearted today, feel loving toward every person you see, and be loving and tender toward the world around you?
This is a way to be more present and alive in the moment. As you can see, these are not things that you’ll be able to get perfect immediately or even ever. They are things to practice.
But I can tell you, in my experience, being fully immersed in each activity, with your heart open and your emotions fully expressed, will help you to be fully alive in each moment.