Learning How to Live In the Moment

100 Things #006 - Live in the Moment

It’s no secret that I’m an advocate for introspecting.

Part of living a fulfilling, meaningful life requires us to take stock of our day-to-day and try to come to some conclusions about how we’re feeling outside of various isolated moments. 

Though, in doing this, there is a balance to strike that I believe is crucial for remaining content with one’s life—even if it is a touch cliché. 

“Being in the moment” and “living for the here and now” are somewhat silly-sounding turns of phrase that float around, reminding us not to over-analyze, embracing the current moment rather than fretting over what can’t be controlled. 

And it’s hard to argue that it isn’t just simply good advice. 

It stands to reason then that the key to satisfying both needs is to find a sense of balance between reflection and action. 

This extends to both the blissful moments, the ones where we dream of time coming to a standstill, as well as the moments of pain, which seem to drag indefinitely. 

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This last week, my father passed away unexpectedly. 

While I’m still processing and grieving and reflecting on the new normal, I’m also already finding myself looking back on those first few moments after realizing he was no longer with us. 

Memories of driving my mom to the hospital at 5 a.m. to see if my dad had made it there alive replay in my mind on loop. Another cliché that feels all the more real when you’re going through it yourself. 

Yet, all I remember wanting to do in that moment was “be in the moment,” taking in and feeling every emotion that felt natural at the time. 

I didn’t want to overcontextualize what was going on, or try to filter my emotions based on the setting or the company or even through my own expectations of how I should be feeling.

Instead, I let it break me. I gave myself over to the present, let my walls down, and it hurt. 

The wound is still fresh, and not enough time has passed to really say how those decisions will impact me in the long run, but I’m proud of myself for making the choice I made in that moment. 

All in all, this post is a tad short and a bit on the selfish side, but sometimes short and sweet is the better call anyways.

I’ll leave you here with a few journaling prompts for those who want to do a bit of guided thinking around this topic:

• Reflect on a recent experience of "being in the moment" during times of either joy or sorrow. How do you typically respond to intense emotions?

• Consider the balance between reflection and action in your life. How do you navigate the tension between introspection and living in the present moment?

• Explore the concept of "over-analyzing" and its impact on your well-being. How do you know when you're dwelling too much on past events or worrying too much about the future?

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For now, have a good week, and I’ll see you at 100.

Photo by Kelly on Unsplash