10 Ways To Live In The Moment

Living in the moment is not a mysterious concept.
We've all done it at one time or another.
The key to a full life is to regularly live in the moment,
to participate fully and not miss a thing.

Even in times of distress, living in the moment
is our best chance to grow stronger and smarter.

Whether you are changing diapers, paying bills
or making love, you can enrich your daily life with focus
and concentration.

Here are our Top 10 ways to live in the moment.

1. Do one thing at a time.
First meetings. Next daycare. Then groceries.
You do one thing but you are thinking about the others.
To live in the moment, you must learn to compartmentalize —
to concentrate only on the task at hand. Like the surgeon
who puts thoughts of her divorce aside while in the
operating room, with practice, you too can learn focus.

2. Stop and look around.
The fog of worry keeps us from observing sights,
sounds and smells. The next time you feel stressed,
rather than tuning out, try to observe things very
closely instead. Focus on the color of a sunset
or the leaves blowing on a tree.

3. Listen to people.
We've become a society adept at half-listening
to people while our minds are elsewhere.
Whether it's a co-worker, your child or a friend
doing the talking, practice giving them your full
and undivided attention.

4. Meditate or pray.
Whether you are offering a
prayer to God or focusing on your breathing,
your brain gets bathed in alpha waves and your blood
pressure drops. Give it a few minutes and you won't
want the moment to end.

5. Move with awareness.
When you dance in time to the music or row in unison
with your crew team, you are anchored to the moment.

6. Focus on life's pleasures.
Celebrate life's pleasures, big and small,
No one needs to tell joyful people
to live in the moment; they're already there.

7. Breathe deeply.
Have you been so busy lately you haven't had the chance
to catch your breath? Learn to inhale and exhale slowly
and with awareness.

8. Look for the unique.
Even if you walk your dog along the same route every
morning, there are always subtle changes. Make a habit
of looking for something new — a bed of flowers that
has begun to bloom or a building with a fresh coat of paint.

9. Eliminate what-ifs and if-onlys.
"If only I could get that raise, then I'll be happy."
"What if I never find the right man?
"If only I could lose 20 pounds, then I'll start enjoying life."

There is nothing wrong with having goals, but don't let
them distract you from the here and now.

10. Seek a positive spin.
So you threw out your back on the first day of your
ski trip. Don't resign yourself to misery.
Don't "put life on hold" until you're back on your feet.
If you are creative, you will always find something
to appreciate. When you live in the moment,
you identify opportunity — even if those opportunities
are nothing more than the chance to practice
courage and patience.