Do you enjoy the moment?
We live in a world that is constantly chasing the next thing.
The next upload, promotion, milestone, invitation or vacation. There seems to be some kind of checklist that we follow without even realising it. As soon as we wake up in the morning there seems to be a rush. Grab the phone and check on the social media what did I miss? Stress continues as we rush to have breakfast or just grab the coffee and go out the door. The panic did I check the emails or not? Weekends are planned well in advance. We are constantly looking ahead and focusing on that alone.
The cold hard truth is that life doesn’t happen sometime in the future it is happening right here and right now.
If your whole life revolves around chasing happiness you have missed a large chunk of your life. Were you present in those simple moments of your life. The ones that really count. Celebrating with the important people in your life or just enjoying the here and now.
Doing nothing
Let’s be honest. Most peoples seem to be terrible at doing nothing. It is not only the children who cannot seem to occupy themselves. The adults are also at a loss at what to do with free time. That is a concept that is lost in time. (that sounds good.)
If someone has 5 minutes to spare they seem to panic. They do not know what to do. Grab the phone or device and start scrolling. It does not matter what it is whether it is social media posts or emails. They start to wonder if they locked the house door in the rush out the door this morning. (they did) Why not collect recipes for meals they will never actually cook.
We seem to have 35 tabs open in our minds and flicking between them at random times. Nothing is completed it is just on save for later.
Have we forgotten how to just relax and live in the moment. Stop and smell the roses as it were. Realise that there are roses right beside you.
What does it actually mean?
“Stop and enjoy the moment” is not just a caption for a social media post. It can be seen as an act of rebellion against the daily grind of life.
We all have responsibilities and understand the need to complete them. It is all about shifting your focus from doing things that have the be done to acknosledging the skill of just being in the moment. In between all the stress and hectic lives we lead there are moments we should all be taking to savour the moment we are in right now. The present moment is the only time that you really possess.
Stopping to enjoy the moment means you are not lazy or avoiding your responsibilities you are simple reclaiming your attention from the endless pull of the future and anchoring yourself to the reality of the now.
The price of constant rushing around
There is a hidden cost you pay when you refuse to stop.
You miss out on details You miss out on a beautiful rainbow or wonderful sunset while you are planning your vacation. You miss your child’s milestone moment as you were too busy texting. These can never be replaced.
Burning out Continuously striving to reach the next thing without stopping the enjoy the moment depletes your health and energy levels. The joy of being a human and part of society.
Connection is lost You cannot connect with other people as you are never there in the moment. Other people are not even noticed or considered. Being present in people’s lives is such a precious gift you can give and receive as well.
How to hit the pause button
The best thing about this is you can start today and right where you are. No purchase is necessary and no planning is needed.
1. The micro-pause
Before you start your next task, stop for a few seconds. Take in a slow deep breathe, pause to hold it and slowly breathe out. Feel your feet on the floor or ground. Acknowledge where you are right now. Look around and take in what you see. This tiny reset you make right now breaks the automatic routine.
2. Single-tasking
Yes, we have all heard the wonderful concept of multi tasking but let’s try just doing one thing at a time. Break things down. If you are drinking coffee or tea. Focus on just doing that. Holding the cup or mug in your hand and savouring the taste. Leave the phone down. Don’t check the tablet or computer. Taste the drink. Smell the aroma. Take a deep breathe and enjoy the moment.
3. The "look up" rule
Every hour, force yourself to take a break. Look away from the screen in front of you. Look out the window. Check out the room you are in right now. Remind yourself that there is a world outside the screen.
4. Savour the transition
We all lead busy lives and have so much on our to do list of the day. Stop rushing from one task to the next. When you finish work take a moment to stop and close the laptop or switch off the computer. Take a deep breathe in. hold it and slowly breathe out. own the moment and the transition from one task to the next.
Where is the magic?
The magic is in the middle. It is not chasing the next big thing. We think I will be happy when I go on the next vacation or get the next promotion. Happiness is not a destination it is the journey that is important.
If you go to the cinema to watch a film and only see the beginning and the end you have missed the whole plot and character development. The real meaning of the film is lost. Your life is the whole film from beginning to end.
Learning how to stop and enjoy the simple moments of life are the actions that help keep us grounded in life.
What can you do today?
Are you up to the challenge? There are some simple things to do that are not complicated or take up much time in your day.
- take a walk without your headphones or earplugs. Enjoy the nature around you
- Catch up with a friend or family member and just listen to them.
- Enjoy your cup of coffee or tea and savour the taste and smell.
- Sit in silence of five minutes and focus on your breathing.
- Stopping every hour to check your surroundings.
- Doing one task at a time.
- Spending time with your family.
- Finding a hobby that you enjoy
Learn how to stop breathe and just be present in the moment right now.
Time is fleeting and we all know how fast it can fly by. Don’t let it all slip through your fingers while you are constantly planning the future. We cannot change the past or predict the future. All we have is right here and right now.
Stop every now and then and enjoy the moments you have.
