The Importance of Living in the Present Moment

The Importance of Living in the Present Moment

Last update: 16 November, 2018

The present makes us exist in a certain place. Although we sometimes underestimate the present, everything we do in the present moment will be our personal inheritance. Living in the present allows you to build a whole world that will then become your legacy.

Living in the present implies being aware of each situation and finding our eternity in every single moment. Naive people spend their time looking at other places while standing on an island full of life opportunities. There are no other places, though… There’s no other life but this one. 

The present is ephemeral and thinking intensely about an unknown future or our troubling past may cause it to slip out of our hands.

A woman jumping and feeling happy.

Forever is composed of “nows”

Although it may be difficult for us to understand the physical dimension of time, the truth is that life is now. There has never been a time when your life wasn’t now.

The present is so transient that this line you just finished reading is already part of your past. The future, on the other hand, is what you project when you think about what you’ll be doing on the weekend instead of focusing your whole being on reading what’s before you. The present moment is the only time we can modify with our actions and decisions.

“Living in the moment means letting go of the past and not waiting for the future. It means living your life consciously, aware that each moment you breathe is a gift.”

-Oprah Winfrey-

We sometimes put so much of our energy into thinking about the past or future that we don’t realize just how quickly the present moment flies by. It’s important for us to stop for a second and think about the number of times we’ve kept ourselves from living in the present moment just out of fear of future or past memories.

A woman smiling.

Living in the present moment allows you to be thankful for everything

If our happiness at this time consists mainly of memories and expectations, we’ll only be vaguely aware of the present moment. If we do this a lot, we won’t be able to be fully conscious of what goes on around us. That keeps us from enjoying the little things and experiencing them fully. Breaking the habit of constantly looking back and forth will be of great help if we want to enjoy our current reality.

Focusing only on the future or past can jeopardize our present to the point where we start asking ourselves if we’re living in the real world or if it’s all a fantasy. The present moment doesn’t last for a lifetime. Today seems eternal, but it won’t exist tomorrow. 

Keeping ourselves present in our reality may seem like an easy thing to do, but it requires practice. The reason for this is that we’re used to giving free rein to thoughts that aren’t part of it. Living in the present gives us the chance to learn from the many events that go on in our daily lives. You may think that you do pay enough attention to your reality when, in fact, all you do is think about the consequences of your past actions or how scary the future is.

It’s okay for a past event to make you feel upset, but why remain angry due to something that no longer exists? Keep yourself present and grateful for your current reality. The secret to having a healthy mind and body is living in the present moment instead of complaining about the past or worrying about the problems the future might bring.

“Most people are prisoners, thinking only about the future or living in the past. They are not in the present, and the present is where everything begins.”

-Carlos Santana-


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.