Lately I’ve found my mind wandering and multi-tasking during the day. Sometimes I wish it would power off and let me be.
Especially at night right before I’m going to sleep, because apparently 11pm is optimal time for my brain to remind me of the 100 million things I need to do.
It also happens when I’m making coffee in the morning and barely awake. My thoughts are suddenly saying “don’t forget the laundry” or reminding me of 50 ways to reorganize my closet.
Have you ever experienced lists running through your head at the most inconvenient times?
If you have, you’re probably thinking this all sounds normal. This is normal. The thinking and the lists, they’re a part of life.
And that’s true.
But the lists, the multi-tasking, the past and future thinking taking control of our minds at every inconvenient point during the day, that doesn’t need to be normal, does it?
How do we control our thoughts?
Well, we can’t always.
But we can make a choice with what to do with those thoughts because, I don’t know about you, but I want to spend more time living in the present than worrying about past mistakes or future choices.
Living in the present might sound challenging, daunting, impossible even. But it simply takes a mindset shift. A recognition of where your mind is going, and a willingness to ask it to pause.
Now some of you might be thinking:
“There’s nothing wrong with multi-tasking”
“Why do I need to pause?”
“Why does living in the present matter anyway?”
Let me ask you something.
Do you remember the last time you were fully aware of your surroundings?
It doesn’t count if you pulled out your phone after 10 seconds to take a picture, started thinking about checking your email or Instagram, or mentally thought about your to-do list.
No, I mean, when was the last time you told your mind to pause, so you could let your senses and body live in the present?
Maybe for some of you it’s a mountaintop moment, you climbed a great height and are looking at a gorgeous view.
Maybe for others it’s sitting with a grandparent and playing checkers.
Still for others, it might be spending time with your significant other and reminding each other how you fell in love.
It doesn’t have to be anything special, but it’s a feeling you remember vividly.
You were aware of all of your senses, the look of your surroundings, the fresh air or aroma of food, the image of the person you were with or the stunning view before you, the feel of the ground beneath your feet, the taste of your food or coffee, the sound of the bird whistling nearby or the voice of the person you were speaking with. Every part of the moment has a memory attached to it.
For me, these moments are often attached to playing the piano.
The feel of the keys beneath my fingers, the sound of the music I’m creating, the scent of the cup of coffee or tea sitting next to me as I play, the black notes on the white page in front of me swirling to create beauty.
Have you lived in the present lately?
I often long for moments of calm and peace. Where the world feels just a little bit smaller. The problems of life feel more manageable and less dramatic. The bills, chores, and to-do lists fade away for a time.
In a world that feels so uncertain right now, it’s hard to do anything except remember what we had in the past or long for change in the future. I’m right there with you.
But what would it look like to live in the present right now? Just for a minute?
You might find yourself surprised. Calm. Matter-of-fact even.
You see, living in the present isn’t a new or phenomenal concept. But it does take a conscious choice. There must be a willingness to do so.
Maybe you’re thinking I don’t need to live in the present, I’m doing just fine. You might be right, you are doing fine.
But do you want to feel great, to feel whole, to feel satisfied with who you are? You’ll never feel any of those things unless you choose to live presently.
Our greatest understanding of ourselves does not come from wondering who we were or will be. It comes from understanding who we are now.
You see, living in the present isn’t just about taking in a moment. It’s about saying yes to you.
You matter.
You are enough.
You have value.
If you’re sitting there thinking, I want that life, know that you can have it. You just have to choose it and start with a moment.
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