What does it mean to be in the moment?

Many humans are all familiar with the phrase "Live in the moment" but this holds a different meaning for each human. 
Living in the moment is ironically achieved over time, entire life times in certain situations in order to actually appreciate the meaning. Being in the moment is quite possibly the very meaning of human life here on Earth. 

You may be reading this right now, as you are going about your day tackling your "To do" list, rushing around with children,  pets, partners, managers, co workers; Thinking of everyone's needs, heading to work, thinking of what is for dinner, and the list goes on. All of this is not living in the moment. 

​Are you dreaming about a much deserved vacation, or break from it all?
This is not living in the moment.
All of what you just read is how most of humanity on this planet have been conditioned to function day to day.

Before we know it we are wondering how the time went by so fast, and contemplating the meaning of life again, as we now feel time is running out for us. 
 

How frightening to realize all this time we have not been living in the moment?

Moments are what make up each day.

Your routine, and what inhibits your routine are all "moments" passing us by. The first key is how to make the most awareness of yourself within each moment. 
Do you enjoy pushing yourself to the very last energetic straw, passing out, or sleepless, and waking up to a frantic rush out the door?

I highly doubt it. 

If you could change this reality, would you? I truly believe you all would.

As a human we just don't know how or believe we can. So the first step here is to tell yourself "I believe I can live the life I desire".

Say it out loud, a trillion times if needed, all day, every day, and especially when your day is not going the way you want. This gives you a time to pause to observe the moment you are in. 

Do you enjoy being stressed, snapping at your loved ones, feeling anxious about money, how much love you receive, your job, your body appearance, your time passing by?

I highly doubt you do.

Yet here we all are on this planet experiencing this frantic, anxious ridden, mental, and very physically anxious or depressive state. 

If you could change the way you react to your loved ones, if you could feel happy and peaceful inside of yourself, and looked forward to creating unlimited income, doing work you love, enjoyed the movement of your body, and lived each moment to it's fullest; Would you?

I truly believe you all would.

We humans are just not sure how or don't believe we can. The very idea of it is too overwhelming because we are so used to over thinking and struggling along,  so we push the idea out of our minds all together and carry on in the rat race of our reality. 

So, what do we humans do then?

We do what is "socially acceptable" or what makes us not feel that we are in so much desperation.

For example, we may drink, smoke, become habitually addicted to something, seek approval and intimacy from anything outside of ourselves. 

We engage in ANY short term coping practice that enables us to escape from the reality we are living. This can go on for our entire lives! This may go on for many life times! 

Sure we may laugh, we may have fun, we may tell ourselves "we are so happy", yet if we are alone and totally real with ourselves, we can see and our spirit FEELS, we are so far from truly feeling at peace and happy with ourselves, those around us, and where we are  in life.

So what are some solutions to all this seemingly hopeless, fake reality? 

Let yourself feel, and pretend you are watching yourself.

Tell yourself "this feeling will pass" if it is an uncomfortable feeling for you. Say it a trillion times if you need to, all day, every day. 
The key is to observe, without reacting. There are countless tools for this piece and we can go into very detailed depth, but for the sake of a quick blog- Let yourself feel without the need to react.
Count your breathing, count the clouds, count the freckles on a face, name what you smell, hear, and see, do all you can to pause without reacting and name then, name them feeling you're feeling. "I am feeling sad"/ "I am feeling scared"/ "I am feeling anxious" etc. 

Next try to do this in the morning. Wake up, and say out loud or inside your mind... "I am feeling...." (describe the feeling)

Then find two things you are thankful for. This takes no time at all and can change your entire day.

I went from rushing around to 5 jobs, caring for children at the same time, and being basically a complete basket case of stress, fear, which I could not sustain, to a completely different reality just from changing the way I wake up. I built a beautiful routine I adore. Start with the 2 Thankful things. 

Then make a wish or two for your day, (for example), I love to say with my children in the morning "Today we will laugh!"

There is no limit to what wishes you can make, and make them simple at first. The point is to be in the moment. Saying the words "Today we will laugh"
​brings a smile to our faces, and we start the day with delight, instead of rushing frantically. 

Lastly, when in these high emotional moments, or any mundane moment, ask yourself "How can I make the moment I am in better?" 
Your subconscious and heart does the work here; If you are following the pause piece we just talked about.

Reaching for the bottle, can, the smoke, yelling, etc. Do NOT make a moment better.

This makes everything so much more difficult, the future moments so much more worse for you and all you love.

Could you listen to your child, and offer a hug, or ask them a question instead of snapping back in frustration or saying "No"?

Could you can ask your partner what they need instead of snapping back in a frustrated way with how they are acting? 

Can you put on music, can you light a candle,  can you go for a walk and notice the clouds, can you feel your heart beat? Can you notice the sun, the rain, the flower or, notice how amazing it is when we leak water out of our eyes?

Give yourself a hug and notice how soothing it feels, or hold someones hand instead of letting yourself be swept away in reacting. 

In summary: Try these ideas today:

Say out loud
"I believe I can live the life I desire"  (as often as you can) 
"This feeling will pass" (as often as you can when dealing with uncomfortable feelings)

​Say out loud,
"I am feeling".... (as often as you can, especially when you wake up) 

Say out loud, 
two thankful things, (as often as you can, especially when you wake up) 

Say out loud, 
two wishes for the day (as often as you can, especially when you wake up) ex:
"Today I will laugh" 

Say out loud, 
"How can I make this moment better" (as often as you can, especially when dealing with challenging moments) 


Observe, how your mind redirects back to the moment instead of getting caught up in what has happened in the past, or what may happen in the future.

Nothing can change what has happened.

What is going to happen can change a million times before the end of your day. 

Your life is all up to you, and all you have is NOW-

​Make it the best you can. You are magical and very powerful when you do! 

- Sarah Helten 

Below is a poem on the topic and journal prompt: Enjoy! 

What does it mean to be in the moment?

To let it pass by without regard
is to lose the gift of the lesson,
To see your life as "too hard "

What does it mean when your child brings you a rock?
What does it mean when you're too tired and busy to talk?

What does it mean to be in the moment?

To let it in and feed your spirit
To feel all emotions to let yourself hear it
To cry together, to laugh, to sing
To appreciate the beauty each moment brings

What does it mean to turn away when feelings run high?
What does it mean to act tough when we want to cry?

What does it mean to be in the moment?

To lose yourself in a smile
To share the joy of a friend for awhile
To hold each other through the pain
To snuggle up and watch the rain

What does it mean to be loud when we need to listen?
What does it mean to withhold words and hate the tears as they glisten?

What does it mean to be in the moment?

To grow together and deepen a connection
To be courageous and supportive
To find new direction

What does it mean to be in the moment?

- Love Sarah Helten

Journal Prompt:

How can you make the best of each moment today?
How can you make it better instead of worse? How can you show love to yourself and those around you no matter what phase of their lifes journey they are on? How can you accept where you are and where those around you are?
How can you make it easier and try something different?