Finding Peace in the Everyday Life: Embracing the Present Moment

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.” — Buddha.

The Illusion of Time

Time. It’s an idea with which we struggle, a river in which we feel we are always struggling to swim. We fill our lives with striving forward to the future and regret the past, forgetting the only time which exists now.

The past is gone, a collection of memories that sometimes bring joy and other times sorrow but can never be relived. The future is uncertain, an area of possibilities and anxieties, yet it only has life in our imagination. The only real existence is this very moment of breath, this heartbeat, this experience. Yet, we spend so much time dwelling on what was or what could be that we miss the richness of the now.

Let the sound of a ticking clock ring: every second, a moment, a moment, no other moment is equal to or can replace. But we hurry away those seconds, blind to their beauty, often hung up on past regrets or preoccupied with anxieties about the future. We seem to have time in our control, while in reality, time is in control over us.

The Tyranny of the To-Do List

We further complicate our relationship with time by making lists of endless things to do, a brain filled with a calendar ranging from tasks and appointments to goals. A list like this builds on a sense of urgency-no more than the feeling that we’re always behind, always hurrying to some imaginary destination.

The “to-do list” becomes a commander, taking the lead in our lives, dictating our pace, and pushing us further from now. We become so fixated on the next project, the following target, and the upcoming deadline that we fail to see what actually happens around us.

We miss the beauty of a sunrise, the warmth of a hug, the laughter of a child. In this way, we then lose our capacity to appreciate the little things in life that make life worth living because we’re just so consumed by our relentless pursuit of achieving, accomplishing, and “getting things done.”

Presence is Power

Mindfulness is the liberation from that tyranny-the to-do list, the embracing of the power of the present moment. So, it is paying attention to sensations, sights, and sounds of the immediate experience rather than the relentless chatter of our thoughts.

A garden full of flowers, herbs, and insects is one thing, but when you are bent over weeding, pruning, and above all, watering, you don’t see the roses that are in bloom, the lavender intoxicatingly fragrant, and the butterflies dancing around it all so delicately.

In a way, mindfulness is like stepping back from the garden to appreciate its beauty and the details in it and to connect to the present moment rather than an accomplishment that one wishes to achieve.

The Art of Paying Attention

Has not everyone drunk a cup of coffee at one time or another? Do we gulp it down without looking or even take the time to savour the aroma, the warmth in the cup, the taste? Take your time to notice how flavours change, the sensation of the mug in your hand, and the steam rising from the surface. That is how mindfulness goes into practice: bringing one’s full attention to the moment so as to experience it without judgment or distraction.

Take a moment and imagine yourself on the street. Do you just move from point A to B, or do you perceive the change of colour in the leaves, the wind blowing upon your skin, and the birds singing? Does one appreciate the minuscule details of the architecture in a building, the smiles of strangers passing by, and even the feel of the pavement? That is mindful living: engaging fully with the world around you.

The Practice of Presence

It is a practice to come into the present moment, and it is a practice in patience, awareness, and will to let go of the past and the future.

It means noticing that our mind is like a stream, and it is constantly flowing. We do not have to get caught in its flow. We may learn how to see our thoughts without truly getting entangled within them. We notice them, content and all that comes into it, then softly bring our attention back to the present moment.

The Benefits of Being Present

With mindfulness, the world begins to be experienced anew: with awareness of feelings, sensations, and surroundings, more connected to self, others, and the world outside.

Mindfulness allows us to:

Lessen tension and anxiety: the more one practices being in the now, the less obsession with what-ifs takes precedence. The past is outside our grasp, the future is uncertain, and the only real control we possess is that of the present moment.

Improve our focus and concentration: Through presence, intrusive thoughts bother us less. The mind becomes a more limpid, focused tool, ready to relate to the world with more clarity and depth.

Stronger relationships: We become far better and more empathetic listeners. In being present with another, we can truly hear the words said to us, sense their emotions, and connect with them on a deeper level.

Elaborate our appreciation of the simple things in life: We learn to appreciate the beauty in ordinary things. We become aware of little things or pleasures in our hectic lifestyles that too often pass us the feel of the warm sun, the taste of a fresh fruit, the sound of a friend’s laughter.

The Invitation

The following chapters explore various mindfulness practices to develop the art of being present: observing our thoughts and emotions, paying attention to our bodies, and embracing the richness of the present moment.

It is a journey to take, a path leading you to a more serene and fulfilling life. Are you ready to let the power of the now in?