Happiness is in the present moment

Step 5  I started living the present and I started feeling happier.

When I was pursuing my Happiness I was waiting for something to happen, so my focus was on the future most of the time and sometimes even on my past, regretting things that I had done and most of the times my mind was wondering around, I was physically doing something but in my mind I was somewhere else…

Basically, I was constantly busy on making plans… Don’t get me wrong, it’s good to make plans, but I was forgetting to live the present…. 

It was really stressful and my level of concentration was very low because I wasn’t really used to concentrate on things, my mind was wild.

Then I came across a book about “Mindfulness”, written by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Zen Master spiritual guide and I realized the importance of living the present if we want to live a happy life. I also discovered the importance of meditation and since then I happily meditate every day: the importance and benefits of meditation.

When I started living the present I managed to control my mind, and I started feeling alive and finally happy. Happiness comes from within and we need to work on our happiness every day!

I have learned that if we learn to control our mind, we can control our life. As I said before living the present, definitely help us to control our mind.

Once again we have a choice, we can live the present and feel alive and happy and in control of our mind or we can let our mind control our life.

We don’t realize that happiness is possible only in the present moment and we need to be happy in this right moment.

Living in the present means to be aware of what we are doing in the present moment, start focusing even on every little thing we do, it means that the mind and body are doing the same thing, they are aligned and connected. In this way, we become aware of what is happening inside our mind and around us.

How can we live the present? We can learn to live the present practicing mindfulness.

Concentrating on our breathing also helps us to live the present and feel alive. You might also like to read: The Importance of proper Breathing

What is mindfulness and what are the origins?

There are quite few definitions for the term of mindfulness. According to some dictionary, mindfulness is a “mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, and it’s also used as a therapeutic technique.”

Mindfulness is not something new, even if it started to become quite popular in the West, its origin comes from 2500 years ago.

If you do an online search you will find websites like the BBC and even the NHS (National Health Service) that are talking about mindfulness. The BBC in its article says “The word “mindfulness” seems to be everywhere. Parliament has even started using it.” and the NHS title the article “Mindfulness for mental wellbeing”.

Having said that, a simple definition of mindfulness for me is to be aware of what we are doing all the time, our mind and body are aligned, they are both concentrated on the same things. If we pay attention, most of our thoughts are directed mainly to the past or to the future, just preventing us from living fully in the present.

You might also like to read: Mindfulness can help us to live a happier life.

Below I have listed some quotes from famous and successful people on “Happiness is in the present moment”

“Happiness is in the present moment” Quotes

“Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes.” Thich Nhat Hanh

“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.”  Amit Ra

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

“True happiness is… to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future.” Lucius Annaeus Seneca

How to Be happy in 7 Steps: Step Six – Happiness Triggers