Living in the moment can be challenging for a wandering mind. Mulling over past regrets or dwelling on future worries may feel like it gives us a sense of control over certain events or feelings, but it actually takes us out of the present moment. Practicing mindfulness, while easier said than done, has numerous benefits. Not only does it appear to reduce stress and build resilience; it also can help us become more engaged with our surroundings, savor life's little joys, and find meaning in the simplest experiences, all of which can lead to a richer and more fulfilling life.
Learning to live in the moment can start with something as simple as taking a few deep breaths, helping to anchor ourselves in the present moment. Focusing on our senses is another way to slow down and savor what’s happening only in the present — feel the breeze blowing, luxuriate in a delicious meal, or enjoy the company of the people around us. As some of the great thinkers who gave us this selection of quotes have pointed out, the present moment is truly all we have. So let’s all take a breath, open our senses, and truly experience life — one moment at a time.
A happy man is too satisfied with the present to dwell too much on the future.Albert Einstein
We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends and living our lives.Maya Angelou
No dress rehearsal / This is our life.Gord Downie, Rob Baker, Gord Sinclair, Johnny Fay, and Paul Langlois
Happiness not in another place, but this place … not for another hour, but this hour.Walt Whitman
The more you are focused on time — past and future — the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is.Eckhart Tolle
Remember then: there is only one time that is important — Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power.Leo Tolstoy
Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.Ralph Waldo Emerson
Forever – is composed of Nows.Emily Dickinson
The thing that I do best is "Be here. Be now."Oprah Winfrey
The present moment / contains past and future. / The secret of transformation, / is in the way we handle this very moment.Thích Nhất Hạnh
I never think of the future. It comes soon enough.Albert Einstein
Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed.Corita Kent
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