Savouring the Moment…

How do you like to relax? A glass of wine, good food and a movie? Sounds like a great formula for turning down the stress and turning up the enjoyment. There are, of course, many ways to manage the pressures and stresses of modern life, and one of the methods that is gaining in popularity is the ability to tune into the present moment and suspend our connections with the past or the future. This is the real goal of mindfulness and a very beneficial way to improve our health and wellbeing. It’s time to disengage from our habit of avoiding the present moment. And why is this relevant? Let’s take a closer look.

Have you noticed how much of your attention is absorbed in thinking about the past, reliving old experiences and replaying episodes that left an impression on your life? It’s a universal characteristic of humans everywhere. Either we’re drifting in the web of these highly personal interpretations or we’re thinking about the future and projecting our expectations onto the broad fabric of a time that only exists in our imagination. I know. It sounds very strange when we describe our mental habits in this way. And yes, of course it’s very helpful to plan and create a clear vision of the future. But it’s also important to recognise the value of calming our minds and bringing our focus into the present.

It’s amazing how many details we miss when we’re constantly distracted. Have you noticed how many people are walking around with their attention rooted in their phones? Can you see that they’re largely unaware of their environment? They don’t notice the birds or the trees or the breath that slips in and out of their lungs. It’s as if they’re not fully alive but drifting along in a semi-comatose state that resembles sleep-walking. When we breathe more deeply and open our perception to all the details that are flowing past our senses, we feel more alive, less stressed, more alert yet calm. I would suggest that this is much closer to our natural state of functioning and brings us into a deeper level of awareness. You might notice that you feel more relaxed, less anxious, peacefully detached from the problems and trivia of daily life. Answers present themselves more easily and you experience a natural surge in your creativity. You feel alive in the moment and learn to appreciate the singular gift that is your life. This a powerful step towards the great goal of self-realisation.

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