I really enjoyed the clarity of this post – thanks for taking the time to write and post it.

You’re dead right that living in the now is the easiest and most difficult thing to do! There are so many amazing things happening for me right now I admit, staying relaxed and focused on the present is hard work some days, but thankfully, I’m getting better with practise.

Your tip to “self-talk to yourself in the present tense: “I am now writing an article” etc.” is crackin’ and seems to work for me.

Anyway guys, thanks again for all that good stuff.

Much love,

Ian.

You’re welcome

Yes good point. Personal development is in many ways forward looking since one aspires to develop and cultivate positive aspects of himself. There is always a goal and a target to reach. But this is why the concept of presence can be a dilemma for many people for they think that by abandoning themselves in the present means that they lose their aspirations and goals (which they think lie in the future).

The true realization comes when they understand that the only time you can act on a goal is now. The only time to change yourself so that results are achieved in the future is in the present. Goals do not exist in the future…this is a misconception we easily fall into…goals exist only in the present.

Thanks for the guest post. I think presence is one of the most important parts of personal development. It’s an interesting challenge because personal development is about making changes to yourself in order to be a better person, and it takes time, so the person you are in the future is something you are working to become. But, in the midst of all this you have to remain in the present. I think you’ve made some great points here.

Hey Dani! thanks a lot for your comment!

@ Steven –

Hi Steven…thanks! It’s true how paradoxical the concept of ‘Living in the now’ can be. It’s such a clippery thing. You have all the time but when you try to take hold of it, it slips between your fingers!

@ Miche –

Hi Miche! Many thanks for your comments. What you said is so true. It happens with many concepts in life. From our point of view it seems as if the concept is universally understood but then we realize that it is not widespread at all but a a jargon restricted to specialized circles.

@ Marie –

Hey Marie! Good point!! Your definition of living in the moment makes a lot of sense to me. In fact that is what it’s all about. It’s about letting go of the frenetic rush to get things done and ’smell the flowers’ now. Not tomorrow, not after the job is done but now.

Great ideas!

For me, I often find myself telling myself that I must “be responsible” and do X, Y and Z before I can be allowed to “relax, slow down and smell the flowers”.

For me, living in the moment means taking time to smell the flowers even when I haven’t done everything on my “to do” list.

- Marie (Coming Out of the Trees)

Thanks for outlining it simply, for the practical methods, and for reminding us that not everyone understands this “simple yet difficult” practice!

Cheers,
Miche

It’s a nice reminding post that breaks down the concept of living in the now.

And you’ve brought up a great point – it is both easy and difficult to be living in the now.

It is surprising sometimes to think that we are already physically living in the present, yet it is so hard for someone to be in the present moment for even more than a second! kind of scary in a way.

Anyway, nice guest post that brings up important points to an important topic in life .