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Share via E-mailAre you living in the present moment? What does that mean to you? While a lot of people say they prefer “living in the moment”, few people actually do…
About Lynn Terry
I'm best known online for my Internet Marketing Blog and my Low Carb Diet blog (where I also talk about my fun travel adventures). But there is SO much more to me than work, food & travel. Which is why we're here. ;-) So let your hair down and let's have some REAL fun! *cheers*23 Responses to “Living In The Moment”
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I do this all the time, worrying about what might happen or not happen. Analysis paralysis. I find it hard to make that mental decision to let all that go like you did in your example. I probably would have been chewing my nails in the waiting room.
Great topic to consider.
Tom
It’s a huge transition when you go from worrying to just living. And it’s like most things: easier said than done.
Life experience will prove to you though, that things rarely ever go like you think they will. Unless you *make* them go that way – simply by following the path you make up in your own mind. 
This couldn’t have been better timing! I have several major things going on right now. Instead of focusing on what is happening at this moment, I’m worrying about the future and turning over and over in my head the “what might happen” outcomes.
I am currently working on letting go of the need to control. In reality, I have no control over what happens, and when what I believed would take place doesn’t occur, I kick myself for wasting all that “worry” time (as you eluded to). That’s not how I want to live!
~Cindy :}
It’s not how I want to live either. I still catch myself getting wrapped up in “thought scenarios” sometimes, and have to just stop and take a deep breath – and get back to the day at hand. There’s usually enough to do in front of me anyway, so no need to worry about tomorrow lol.
The last 3-4 months have handed me some serious curve balls too, so I know how you feel. I had to make a mental decision to deal with each thing as it came, whatever was in front of me at that moment. And nothing else.
A few of them were HUGE. So instead of worrying myself to death over what if’s, I sat down and drafted up a “worst case scenario”. Interestingly it wasn’t THAT bad, and I was able to come up with strategic ways to deal with them – and then put it away.
This is such a great subject Lynn! Tom’s name for it Analysis Paralysis is so true too – nothing matters if you just do nothing. As you say there are so many cliches around this subject it’s hard to choose just one again with the AP
There’s a great book – The Present by Spencer Johnson, it deals with learning to live in and enjoy ‘the moment’ as in the present.
I think it’s super important to get up every morning knowing what you want to accomplish each day – even if that is ‘I want to specifically do nothing today” and yes for some of us that HAS to be a conscious decision.
Great topic though, glad you made me think of it – off to see Rascal Flatts tomorrow will think of you when I’m up on the lawn!
Cheers,
Deb
I’ll have to look that book up – thanks for mentioning it!
And you’re right, some of us DO have to plan to do nothing, lol – odd as that sounds. I am one of those that takes “intentional downtime” – and I even “schedule it in” lol.
Hope you enjoyed the concert! I’ll have to come over for another soon. Really enjoyed our trip in April!!
I believe that we’re planning or creating our future moments by what we think now. So if we’re worrying, we’re planning an outcome we don’t want.
In the past, I’ve actually had fights with someone in my head, imagining what they would say – and then when we’ve met, I’ve continued the argument because I’m angry with them over something that never happened! Of course, they have no idea why I’m upset! lol
Hope the results were better than you feared
They were – thank you.
That is actually quite common. I see it all the time in married couples, within families, with best friends, etc. And it confuses the heck out of the other person lol.
And it’s true that we do lead ourselves in certain directions (even those we don’t even really want to go) by following through on assumed outcomes or concerns that we’ve already played out in our minds. Those thoughts turn into actions, which lead us to the outcome we assumed – so we can say “See, I knew this is how it would go!” Heh.
Ironic you pick this topic while our Elite group challenge for the month is to envision where we want to be in 6 months. So important to balance the two!
Definitely need to live in and savor the present while setting goals for the future and savoring the past!
It really is a delicate balance. Without planning and working strategically toward our goals, we’ll never (ever!) get there. This is where you can use the exact same process to envision an ideal change or improvement, and work through the scenarios – which helps you create a positive action plan.
It’s the negative side of that… that can get us in trouble.
Hey Lynn,
Great video but the thought did cross my mind as I watched it. “is Lynn just getting a tiny bit weird?” Of course the light bulb flashed on and I think I totally GET what you mean.
I totally LOVE living in the moment and lately there have been lots of them. For example at the moment I am looking forward to visiting the new Artisans Gallery (On Main) for a moment (or two) of wine tasting. As well as another moment at my favorite place to eat, a meal, a visit and a spoiling.
I hope you are having an AWESOME momentous day!
smiles
Hey Lynn,
I just had to tell ya. I had such a fun day.
Got a lift with a friend to the Gallery. Had an awesome wine tasting experience and met Katie, the rep for a new winery in our area.
Met more writing and art friends for a nice visit and I saw a new water color by my young friend Michelle. (love her work)
Visited the Studio where my artist friend Lorraine was teaching an art class to young students.
Visited the Island Artisan Boutique and met Denise the owner. (she has an amazing variety of art mediums to excite and touch the senses.
I sneaked in a visit to the museum where I met the assistant curator who has taught herself web design and is also a writer. She is now the newest member of our writers group.
I wandered back to my favorite spot to eat. (GREAT food with an even GREATER view) While enjoying a Tuna Melt with a side Cesar Salad I had more friends join me. Awesome
(I even found a new friend who also loves to kayak. The one in the cowboy hat of course 
)
Then I strolled over to the natural water and slope theater next door to enjoy some live entertainment with more friends.
A very AWESOME afternoon and evening!
Check out “Artisans on Main” something new this year in our town. http://www.facebook.com/artisansonmain
Wishing you an AWESOME day as well!
smiles
p.s. I even now have a friend who has two Danes. Imagine!
p.p.s. Sometimes friends are just the BEST medicine…
Very cool, Gary! So glad to hear you had such a nice day. Sounds fun.
And I had to “LOL” at you thinking I was turning weird on ya… I’ve always been that way. 
haha
You must’ve thought of me when you chose your cardigan and t-shirt….
I such a worrywart that I’ve even spent time imagining how social security is going to bury me in cardboard box if I die poor….
Well, I think I’m actually getting a bit better at staying in the moment when years go by.
I actually did, lol. I bought that on Mother’s Day and I was thinking to myself “ooh, Satu will love this color!” haha. It’s funny how things like that stick.
Lynn, if you can package up bottles of ‘how not to worry’ with a side of ‘turn your brain to off-mode for awhile’, I’ll be your biggest consumer! LOL
I totally ‘get’ your concept and admire it so much. Ken is much like you in this way of thinking and has that ability. My brain functions analytically (perfect as an appraiser), and I’m always looking ahead over different scenarios. Problem is, I often have trouble turning that ‘off’ and getting back to normal, (if you can call it that! LOL).
Ken can lie down and be asleep in literally less than 60 seconds!!!! I lie there replaying the day (and the next day) for a little while.
This is a fantastic topic, and I admire your ability to control your mind to this degree. I could sure take a lesson from you.
It didn’t exactly come natural for me, so don’t feel bad. It took a lot of conscious practice. Like you, my mind replays the day and other scenarios when I try to sleep at night. I have to consciously STOP thinking and just listen to myself breathe. When I can’t (my mind wanders) I count my breaths and intentionally breathe in deeply and out deeply – until I can stop counting and just listen.
I still catch myself worrying and wondering too. I have to just stop, and let it go. It’s still something I have to choose to do.
Like I said, it’s taken me a lot of practice, but I am a MUCH happier person for it!
The first thing that came to mind for me when you brought this subject up, was how some people try to behave or act according to how they think other people will find acceptable or appealing. For whatever reason they imagine. Eventually that person is not being true to themself at all and then they live for other people.
I learned at a very young age that it was pointless trying to please everyone all the time. That the only thing I succeeded at doing was hurt myself in the process. So I simply stopped “caring” what other people thought and, amazingly, I was so much happier.
I’ve been through some really tough times in my life. Recently being diagnosed with a chronic pain condition, I *must not* get upset or too invested in anything because it physically hurts. Perhaps this is the furthest extreme result of not living in the moment. Stress is a horrible thing and does crazy things to the physical body, not just the mind.
So ironically, stress and anxiety contributed to this chronic pain result. Now I am forced to live in the moment, to not dwell or stress about anything. To actively seek quiet and peace in my life. Without thought of negatives about anything at all. My mind is very quiet now, but I have paid a very big price to get there.
What an incredibly interesting topic, Lynn. Thanks for bringing it up.
Great points, Shannon! I have dealt with chronic pain for many years now, but refused the diagnosis. Like you though, I’ve found that stress and anxiety contribute to the flare ups dramatically. And most of that stress & anxiety is simply pointless.
Physical stress can be extremely painful. When I get the deep muscle aches, muscle spasms, charlie horses, etc, I lie down and relax my muscle groups one at a time. This is another exercise I do when I am ready to rest – whether it’s my nap or bedtime. Instead of thinking about the day behind or the day ahead, I focus on relaxing muscles and feeling the tension release.
Not always easy when you’re in pain, but incredibly helpful! “Mind over matter” as they say.
Another great topic Lynn!
My thoughts on this: worrying doesn’t help or hurt or change the situation. so it’s a waisted amount of time and energy. I use to worry years ago, the past years since i stopped have been freer because I don’t.
I don’t always live in the moment – although I use to when i was a life coach back in the early 2000′s, so this was a good reminder. Thanks:)
The one thing I make great effort to do though each day is be present in each moment. Which is actually different to some degree. It’s more moment by moment based, or person by person based, phone call by phone call based, etc. where as living in the moment is more a life philosophy that you carry through naturally with you in your day.
Again, super topic. Incredible how open you are on this blog. I am so private -could never do this. Kudos to you!
Thank you – I really had to step out of my comfort zone to start this vlog, but I have SO enjoyed it! I started it as a creative outlet, and because I really wanted to be known for something besides “internet marketing” lol. It has been a lot of fun!
I like the distinction between being present in the moment, and living in the moment. Good stuff – food for thought!
I really enjoyed your perspective, Lynn! I’m actually the kind of person who is constantly living in the future (in my head) and have a very difficult time enjoying the present moment. I’m working hard on trying to improve in that area.
There is a great saying by Seneca which I came across recently: “The man who worries before it’s necessary suffers more than necessary.” I thought it was great and I keep remembering it to remind me not to worry if something hasn’t already happened.
Anyways, really enjoyed some of the videos here. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Nisheth!
And great quote – so very true!