“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift!
That is why it is called the present.”
-Bill Keane
Modern life may have led us to live on autopilot. We all need to work regularly for a living. If there are kids involved, we all need to be responsible for caring for them, day in and day out. When it feels like every day feels the same, that’s when most people start to feel empty.
It’s understandable that sometimes we get busy and get stuck in a routine. After all, having one helps us form healthy habits. However, it’s not the typical everyday lifestyle that makes us feel a void. Usually, it’s how we approach the mundane.
I advocate living life to the fullest and discovering the power within you. I hold on to these beliefs, but I also don’t want others to aspire to a life that only exists via highly curated social media posts. These posts, often tagged with like #YOLO or #wanderlust, has led many of us to think that our lives are not as attractive compared to what we see on our phone screen. But we only need to look closely to realize that it’s all a facade.
Whenever I try to regain balance, I am thankful for having friends who inspire me. One of them is Jaz Presence, who happens to be a guest on my podcast too. In his interview, Jaz explains the beauty of stillness. That it is only when we sit still in total silence can we discover our real strengths and potential. It’s also when we become hyper-aware of the possibilities that surround us. They were there all along, simply waiting for us to find them.
In our conversation, we came up with five tips on being more mindful and staying present.
- Commit to yourself. It’s so easy for us to commit to work or commit to another person we want to share our life with, why not make a lasting commitment to yourself as well? Like writing vows, write down your self-promises and try your best to live by them. Reread them every once in a while to keep reminding yourself.
- Spend some time alone and in silence. The word meditation seems too challenging for some, but spending some alone time may be a lot easier. Learning how to meditate would be the ultimate goal to achieve mindfulness, but if you’re not comfortable with the idea of sitting in your own thoughts for a longer period, try spending time alone. Pick an activity like doing yoga, reading, walking, or knitting where you can do anything that can help you enjoy the quietness around you.
- Live with gratitude in your heart. The more grateful you are, the more the universe will bless you. We often take many things for granted and only realize their true worth once we’re denied them. Every day, practice saying at least three things you’re grateful for. It can even be the littlest thing, like being thankful your hot coffee was just at the right temperature, not too hot and not too cold.
- Talk to others. It shouldn’t be the hi-hello type of conversation, but spend extra time making conversation with the people in your community. Or call a loved one you haven’t talked to in a while. Being aware of what’s happening to others will change your perspective about your personal life. On the other hand, you might be a reason to brighten someone else’s day by simply asking how they are. This is always a win-win.
- Be consistent. As the usual way of life, being mindful is a practice. You might forget about it for some days, and that’s okay. You can always regain balance as long as you keep yourself aware of what it takes to stay present.
So there you have it. These are some of the tips that I think you’ll benefit from. May you find your balance, be in the moment, and remain in the now.
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