Live in the PRESENT, live in the MOMENT

This is part of a “LinkedIn pilot” called “Series” I am very proud to be part of that select group to run the pilot

I will be publishing an article once a week in the series titled “Being the best YOU”. Every week’s article will shed some light on how to become your best version either as a person, leader, or business owner to live the life you always deserved to have.

I am looking forward to your engagement, sharing your opinions and ideas and most importantly to you reading the series.

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The first post in the series was “You are not your past”

Living in the Moment, Living in the Present

So many people I meet every day are either stuck in the past or anticipate the future. Their whole energy goes to dwell on the past, or being anxious worrying about the future

The result is that they do miss what is going on in their lives today. We use the word “present” as a synonymous to a “gift”. Our “present” is our “gift” that we need to use NOW

Time is the most precious commodity that you can’t save for later, and you can’t get it back no matter how much you are willing to pay. 

We live in times where our attention span is extremely short, having so many distractions around us, like technology and social media, we are stretched to the maximum, multi-tasking is glorified, we are rushing to do everything and we are stressed. 

We are pulled in every direction at the end of the day we wonder where the day went, and wish that we had more than 24 hours in the day.

We are missing so much around us – when we can live consciously and purposefully if we train our minds to live in the moment; when you control your approach to living in the present of awareness you can control your behavior that can produce favorable outcomes

Every now and then you need to stop, stand still and look around you with open eyes (physically, mentally, soulfully, psychologically, emotionally, and literally) then actively listen to everything around you.

Focusing on the present makes you feel alive, in touch with the moment’s experience you are living, you are not thinking about the past or the future; you are  too busy in living now. This is one of the secrets of really happy people, be absorbed in the feeling of feeling alive by giving your daily life its focus and concentration you get intense pleasure with living in your present.

When you silence your mind, you live in the present and you become aware of your surroundings. Anything that matters requires your FULL attention this can only happen if you live in the moment.

The journey from “wanting” to stay in the moment to actually “live” in the moment is a challenging process, it needs a lot of practice and discipline, it starts with a conscious decision to create an opportunity in your heart by being committed, courageous to become the one you were destined to be and live the happy fulfilled life you were destined to live, it starts with letting of the fear of what we predict might happen. Let go of the filters that are in your mind that hold you up from your spontaneity, free flow and increases your fears.

Living in the present means that your awareness is completely centered on the “ here and now”. Living in the moment means being conscious, aware and in the present with all of your senses without judging. 

Standing still, living in the present can open the flood gates to your imagination that looks at possibilities that inspires you to do your best

Living in the moment starts by being still, the core of who you are is manifested in your stillness. Living in the moment, develops your “Inner stillness” that puts you in close touch with your surroundings and the universe. 

The stillness creates calmness, that infuses itself in your heart and soul, where you become one with the universe where you do not feel at odds with it, where your fears do not exist, where a new way of thinking and speaking is born. 

Stillness creates accord between the heart and mind, your emotions and your thoughts. Emotions are pure they originate from the heart, we make the thoughts so thoughts can be tainted with whatever memories or fears we have and they can hijack your emotions.

In stillness you can separate between the true emotions and the thoughts as you get to observe them as an outsider, separating yourself from them, looking at them with no bias. Living in the moment or living in the present is by no means a small or easy task or can happen overnight.

Living in the moment increases your self-awareness of your own thoughts you can actually curb negative thoughts if they try to come to the surface, you can control your fears as they try to come out. If you keep stumbling over the obstacles from the past, you will never advance to the future.

Living in the moment increases your appreciation of the beauty around you, it increases your gratitude for what you have rather than just looking at what you do not have. You start moving through gratitude rather than hesitation and doubts

What we pay attention to, our bodies and minds act on it, living in the moment increases our focus to concentrate on the task at hand, let go of the outcomes and seize the moment or Carpe Diem. Concentrating in each moment intensifies its value and meaning; quality versus quantity.

Living in the moment doesn’t mean ignoring planning for the future or setting goals, it is not losing touch with what is going on, rather give every task the full attention moment by moment, and frame by frame enjoying the process.

Living in the moment makes every single moment in your life counts, you embrace it, savor it, and discover its beauty. 

Good or bad, when problems arise, if you live in the moment, you are able to focus on solutions; you channel your energy in a positive way, giving it the full attention it deserves, knowing that it is a moment that will pass. 

Living the moment in good times amplifies your joy, gratitude and helps you hit the reset button to recharge, renew and gain clarity.

Living in the moment makes people happier because most negative thoughts are related to the past or the future

Why worry sick about something that might never happen, worrying about the future creates anxiety, stress and depression on the long run as well as feelings of powerless.

Living in the present in awareness makes you have to deal with the present moment good or bad without projecting worry into the future

Only when you live in the present and stop that “signs” can manifest in your life, you need to be open to accept they exist, allow your dreams to roam, each dream is speaking to you, each dream has a voice, be open to listen, pay attention, you might go through ups and downs that can delay you reaching your destiny or purpose; but you will get there.

When you listen to the voice of your calling or the real you it will engrave your path, for you need to trust and follow it as it will push you to become who you were supposed to be. 

HOW TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT?

We live in times where distractions is everywhere difficult to stop. We' are all busy, overworked, overburdened, over-scheduled, over-stressed--but once in a while we all need to slow down and just be, to experience things without overthinking them.

These are simple steps to practice the habit of “living in the present”, and to concentrate on NOW, helping your subconscious to put you in the right direction

1-   The present is a gift learn to experience the POWER OF NOW. You can’t reinvent your past and can’t control your future the only thing you control is the PRESENT. When you center yourself in the here and now you can chose a positive attitude with no judgement

2-   Make a conscious effort to bring yourself back to the present whenever your mind wanders by cognitive behavior as simple as having signs around you to remind you or wearing an elastic band around your wrist that you snap whenever you start wandering to bring you back to reality

3-   Treat every moment as it were the last one “Live your life as if you were living forever and do for your end as if you were dying tomorrow” Unknown

4-   Do not let the past define you so it will not keep pulling you backwards

5-   Still your mind. Isolate yourself in the moment and tune off the noise around you

6-   Train your mind to focus on the current activity of here and now. Take control pf the moment “You are in control in this moment you can shape it to turn it to what you want”. Immerse yourself in what you are doing at the moment: Feel, smell, hear, taste and touch

7-   Take notice of your surroundings - sights, sounds, smells, and ambiance. Listen attentively to the conversation of others, music, even silence.

8-   Learn relaxation techniques as deep breathing, mini meditation, and meditation. Breathe deep and exhale when faced with a hectic moment just concentrate on your breathing, fill your lungs with air, and let it go slowly. Be aware of your breathing to stay in the moment or to bring you back to the moment

9-   Find happiness NOW not as a goal to achieve in the future

10- Practice Gratitude so every moment is lived in abundance

11- Look at everything that happens to you as an opportunity to grow no matter how bad it might seem at the time. Fight your negative thoughts that stand between you and being present

12- Unplug every now and then from all things and everything

Practice:

• While eating: Enjoy every little detail of your meal, look at the colors on your plate, feel the touch of holding the fork and the knife, let your taste buds immerse themselves in the different tastes, smell the different aromas, breathe
• If you are walking on the beach, feel the sand between your toes, feel the sun rays on your skin, smell the freshness of the air, hear the waves breaking, listen to the birds chirping, look at the horizon and how vast it is.
• If you are having a cup of coffee: Do not take it on the run, plan to have time to savor it. Touch the mug and feel its smoothness, the heat of the mug, the way your fingers wrap around the handle. Enjoy stirring the sugar or cream you are adding, feel how the touch if the spoon feels. Smell the coffee aroma, notice its color, do you take it black, with cream (little, a lot?), is it boiling hot, hot or warm. Feel it as it goes down in your gut, don’t interpret or judge the way you feel just feel it. Enjoy it

The journey of a 100 miles start with a decision to take the first small step. 

Are you ready to start the journey of becoming “BEST of ME” version of you yet?

This is the second piece in my series “Being the BEST YOU” part of the LinkedIn pilot "Series". Subscribe to the series to receive a notification when the next articles are published.

My name is Sahar Andrade, I help organizations increase their employee engagement by investing in Diversity/Inclusion practices as well as through Leadership Development.

I also help successful Individuals that are stuck to reinvent their lives with courage, release their fears, get clarity on their purpose and pursue their dreams.

My teachings, my unique education and experience combined with singular approach to realizing change, form a proven system for long lasting positive transformation. My methodology is based on human psychology and research to break down issues, reverse engineer them, and deconstruct personal myths, while developing personal leadership skills development. It is a simple step by step program, modules, exercises, one on one and group coaching.

I am the author of “49 things about Entrepreneurship: That experts do not want you to know” on Amazon.

This is my TED TALK : Overcoming Negative Thoughts

I am the founder of “Sahar Consulting, LLC” and “Reinvent Yourself to Greatness”