In the Moment – Episode 106
What does it mean to live “in the moment?” How can I plan for tomorrow when I’m living “one day at a time”? How do I learn from past experiences if I don’t look back? How did/do I live not in the moment? Anger and resentment – Living in the past. Chewing over past actions – blaming (myself or others) Fear and worry – Living in the future. “Awfulizing” What are aspects of living in the moment? Take care of the things I can do now, let go of the things I cannot do. Do the “next right thing”. Be fully present in what is happening. Listen Notice the beauty around me Enjoy what is good now (instead of ruminating on what was bad or worrying about what might be bad) How can I practice living in the moment? Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Focus on what is happening now. Focus on the people I am with. Listen – don’t be thinking about my agenda Mindfulness meditation (or other meditative practice) Body language – when my body is in an accepting, listening position, so is my mind. Positive expectations – How they can shape interactions and actions. (“Batman” episode of This American Life and Invisibilia) What about planning for the future and learning from the past? There’s a difference between worrying about what might happen, and planning for what we would like to do. We can and should look at our past in our inventory. We only need to let go of the desire to change it.