be happy with now

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”

- Omar Khayyam

Presence has been a recurring theme for me lately, showing up in books, podcasts, and random quotes that find their way to me.

The concept of presence–living in this current moment and not dwelling on the past or anticipating the future—makes sense, but I find it much harder to actually be present than to understand it.

I’ve realized to be more present, enjoying the moment that is actually my life, it is going to take work–a conscious effort to come back to the present moment and leave the past to the past and the future to the future. I’m not sure it is possible to live in the present every moment unless you reach the highest level of enlightenment. So, my goal is not to always be present but to be present more each day.

When I notice I’m in the past or the future, I try to bring my Self back to the present moment—especially in moments with Ang and the boys, clients, or with other people. Ditching my phone has been the biggest hack to staying present because as amazing of a device as the iPhone is, it is the worst tool for being present.

Quotes like Omar Khayyam’s are a great reminder that the present is the only moment that exists–it is in fact, your life; everything else is either a memory (that may or may not be accurate) or an anticipation of the future, and neither actually exist outside your mind.

But the present moment is.

It is the only time of your life that actually exists and regardless of what is happening in that moment, you should be thankful because you are alive to experience it.

I think Eckhart Tolle said something along the lines that you have everything you need for the present moment to be happy–there is nothing you need that you don’t have for this present moment.

If you have everything you need for the present moment, and the present moment is your life, then you should spend more time happily living in the present moment.

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See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,

JC