Being in the moment and living in the moment is being completely immersed, body and mind, in the present situation, with no thought at all about the past or the future. You are in control of the situation before you, and all your senses are attuned, alert and you are focused. It is real and it is reality. You are right here, right now and nowhere else. It is extremely beneficial state for managing stress.
A perfect illustration of being “in the moment” is this definition by Tanner Thompson taken from the Urban Dictionary.
If you go to a party and one of your friends is sitting around, daydreaming, texting a girl he just broke up with and not drinking at all, complaining about how mad his parents are going to be when he returns home the following morning, he is characterized as being “out of the moment.” If the same friend is playing drinking games, bonging beers, singing songs and having a great time without a care in the world in regards to his girl problems or early sales shift at the shoe store in the morning, or the reactions of his parents upon his return, then he is totally and completely “in the moment.”
Being in the moment is also called mindfulness and the benefits are that it gives you intense clarity, which brings greater understanding of the current situation and improves your thought process and decision-making. Making decisions when in the moment removes the additional stress and distraction of future consequences.
At the other end of the scale it can also be incredibly relaxing and calming because in your mind, at this instant, right here right now, you are isolated and still.
This is why many people practise mindfulness and meditation when managing stress.
The art of Yoga and the religion of Buddhism, also teach the benefits of being fully aware of what is happening in the moment, and not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
Next time try the art of being ‘in the moment’ to manage your stress and increase your effectiveness.
Contact us for further information on managing stress.