Have you ever thought about simply living in the moment instead of focusing on a future you haven’t seen? We tend to pay more attention to tomorrow, next week, next month or next year and little attention to today. While it’s important to consider the future, doing so might cause you to lose focus on the present.
We obsess about our plans for tomorrow, we dream about what our next relationship will be like, we hang on to memories from the past, we fantasize about how much fun we will have on our next holiday, we hope that things will be better tomorrow. What about today? The strange thing is that today is here and those other days aren’t. Today is the most important day because it is the only day we can control.
As much as it is important to set long-term goals to thrive in life, these goals need to be accomplished step by step. And what you do every day is a step towards the achievement of your goal. There’s an old quote by Mother Theresa that says “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”
Choosing to live in the past or the future not only robs you of today’s enjoyment, it also robs you of truly living. The only important moment is the present moment you have now. I read a book titled The Power of Now last year by Eckhart Tolle. It was super insightful and informative. There’s a particular chapter I remember vividly where the writer talks about trying to wash your hands and just enjoying the feel of the water and soap on your hands without thinking about anything else. I went to the sink to try just that and it was only after a few attempts I was able to stop my mind from wandering.
Yes, I know it’s hard to stop your mind from wandering and focus on today solely but it’s something you can do. With that goal in mind, consider this list of tips below to start focusing on today:
1. Stop Worrying: Worry is a killer of joy and you can’t really appreciate today if you’re worried about tomorrow or the past. Be at peace with the notion that what will happen tomorrow will happen whether you worry about it or not. Instead of worrying, start doing something to make changes.
2. Smile: We all underestimate the power of a smile. A simple smile from someone else can brighten your day and make you appreciate the moment, so smile often so others can smile back at you.
3. Show Gratitude: Be thankful for what you have now and bask in the fact that you have it. Enjoy everything that you currently have that makes you happy. We tend to ignore what is right in front of us because we keep longing for more but we need to be thankful for what we have to have more.
4. Forget The Past: Sometimes, it’s not the future we hang onto, it’s the past. In order to focus on today, we need to forget the past too. Forgive old mistakes, past hurts or experiences and move on. It makes you feel lighter and helps you focus on today’s goal. If you are still talking about what you did yesterday, you haven’t done much today.
5. Stay Positive: The happily ever after you are waiting for will never come because real life is not a Disney movie. Life is filled with ups and downs and that’s just the way it is. Instead of worrying about yesterday or tomorrow, focus on today, trust the process, stay content and be confident that what is yours will come to you.
This list is not exhaustive as there are other ways to focus on today such as meditation, self-awareness, making a daily to-do list, etc.
Thanks for reading.
Let me know if you found this helpful.
Mariam Shittu
MARIAM SHITTU 
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