You can always access this moment, right now, in which you’re alive. Learn how not to dwell in the past. Learn how with these simple steps to help you be present.
Are you having a hard time enjoying life?
One of the reasons that people fall into depression is because they’re not living in the present. Dwelling on the past or thinking about the future can draw you away from the life that you’re currently living.
Living in the present allows you to gain a greater appreciation for things, and lets you make immediate changes in your life. The past cannot be changed, and the future is something that you should carefully plan.
Read on to learn about 6 ways to be present and enjoy life (1)
Don’t Dwell on the Past
Living in the present requires you to stop thinking about the things that you cannot change. Dwelling on the past is something that many people do because they wonder how things could have gone differently.
Thinking about how your life would be if you did or didn’t do something will make your current life worse because you’ll gain a feeling of guilt or regret. It’s important to remember that you cannot change anything that’s already happened.
Think About What You Can Change Now
While you cannot change the past, you can change your current situation. If you’re unhappy with where you’re at in life, think about the things that you can do to get out of the slump.
Don’t think about what you could have done. Instead, focus on what you’re capable of changing. For example, if you’re unhappy with your career choice, consider going to get a different degree to find a better job.
Simple things that may seem like they make little to no impact on your life will stack up over time. Even something as simple as a change of diet will increase your quality of life, and it only takes one meal to start.
Stop Overthinking the Future
While trying to think of things that you can change, you might find yourself thinking a lot about the future. This is similar to dwelling on the past in that you’re thinking about something that isn’t present.
You have the ability to shape your future, but overthinking it will leave you distracted. While you’re thinking about the future and making plans, you’ll be neglecting your present-day life.
If you start going to the gym, you might start thinking about achieving a certain physique in the near future. This can cause you to get disappointed when you don’t achieve said physique or you don’t achieve it quick enough.
Live in the moment and take one day at a time. Every day is a step towards a goal, short-term and long-term, but it’s important to not create unrealistic goals. If you’re new to something, you won’t be able to (2)
Be Grateful for What You Have
While getting caught up thinking about other things, it’s easy to forget about what you currently have in life. If you want to know how to be present, you must be grateful for what you have.
While it may seem that you don’t have much going for you, look at all of the good things you do have. Here are some questions you can ask yourself:
- Do I have a roof over my head?
- Do I have a loving family and friends?
- Do I have a job that pays the bills?
These are some factors that play important roles in the lives of people. If you’ve answered yes to any of the questions, you have something that you can be grateful for. (3)
Work Towards Solving Problems
Part of living in the present is getting through obstacles that may occur in your life. Many people resort to ignoring problems rather than facing them, which can keep the thought of it in their mind.
Solving your problems will give you peace of mind and may you feel better about yourself because you’ve done something that you thought was difficult.
When a problem arises, you must find out why it did. After finding out why it arose, you need to come up with a way to get rid of the problem. There are many solutions to problems in life, but you need to choose the one that’s best for you.
Once you start to tackle your problems, you’ll avoid thinking too much about what can happen because of it. After all, when the problem is gone, there’s nothing to think about.
Have a Positive Outlook on Life
With being present comes enlightenment. An important part of enlightenment is having a positive outlook on life. When you’re positive, it’ll be easier for you to enjoy what you have and accept unexpected changes.
You’ll also be better at coming up with ways to solve problems and accomplish goals. Thinking positively will make it harder for you to be bothered by things. You’ll learn to find the good of every situation and outcome.
Enlightenment is essentially the ability to understand the things that are occurring around you.
Be Present, Be Happy
The main goal of being present is happiness. If you’re someone that’s full of regret or is anxious for the future, you should try to be present to prevent yourself from experiencing unwanted emotions.
Being present is the key to having a healthy and successful life, and you’ll become a better person with new skills once you do so. Live for today, not yesterday or tomorrow.
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A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.
