Living In The Present Moment

By Kristin Lloyd Moussa

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”  - Buddha

 “If you are depressed you are living in the past.
If you are anxious you are living in the future.
If you are at peace you are living in the present.” – Lao Tzu

One of the hottest topics in the psychology and self-help industry is living in the present, living in the moment, and being in the now. However, as clearly noted in the above quotes this is not a new philosophy or way of thinking. In fact, it was established in Eastern philosophy but has grown in our culture as a result of our cultural preoccupation with the past and the future.

Many people in the world are so focused on the past and the future that they lose sight of the present, which has also been deemed a gift.

All of what occurs in our lives happens in the present. Decisions, thoughts, plans, and actions always take place in the present. Although regret happens in the future (when you regret the past) and dreams happen in the past (when you dream of your future), but every action that takes place is always conducted in the present.

Think about it – when you make the decision to get married or get divorced that is a present moment function. Whether it happens or not takes place in the future, but that thought and that decision always happens at one point in time –which is the present.

When you go out for a run in the morning, or engage in a yoga class, those actions are conducted in a present state of being.

Being in the present is about becoming alive in that moment and becoming mindful of that moment. When you are mindful and fully engaged or fully “present” and engaged in each present moment, there is another level of presence that goes beyond attendance. This heightened awareness allows you to enjoy each moment and engage fully.

There are so many people who are engaged with smart phones and televisions and wishing for either their past or their future because they are not engaged in their present. If engaged in the present, they must be forced to be mindful of their circumstances whatever that may be.

Becoming aware and being present is not a new state of being or some new age philosophy. It is about enjoying your life, or making the necessary changes in order to enjoy your life. It is more about engagement in your own life in avoiding the distractions.

It’s great to wish for something more and to dream for the future, but if you find yourself living in either the past or the future, then you are missing your greatest gift which is that present moment. Then it would be time to take action and experience your present state of being so that you can take action in order to change it.

Not everyone is able to realize that they are missing out on life, and many avoid the present in lieu of the past or the future. Don’t get caught in the cycle of living in the past or the future and instead take control of your future by living in the present. As all the choices and decisions are made in the present, your future is counting on you now to be present so that you are able to make a better tomorrow by being present today.

                                                                                                                    

"The Mind Accepts No Limits But Those You Give It"

By Melissa English

These ominous words which Michael Jordan spoke, "I have failed over and over, and that is why I succeed, " should ring in everyone's ears. All of history's great leaders, all of the best athletes, every inventor and visionary has known the word failure. The question is how do you decide to deal with failure? Do you sit and wallow in the pain and the affliction which has taken you over for the moment? Or do you realize that you are in fact on a journey and that every great, fill in the blank was once a failure?

Part of your daily ritual should not be looking over the failures in your past, but instead looking to the successes of the future. When Thomas Edison was attempting to create stand-alone wireless lighting, he failed over 10,000 times. When Marconi told his friends that he was going to invent a method by which sound waves could be transmitted through the air without wires, his friends and family tried to check him into a mental hospital.

According to Napoleon Hill, "The mind knows no limits but those you give it." Think about that statement for a moment, you are the one who is setting your boundaries and dictating the life you have, and want to have. Any limits you have may have been programmed by your environment, your friends, or your own teaching. However, the positive change you are looking for is merely a matter of teaching the brain a new program. As we know it takes 66 days, according to experts to learn a new habit, it is time to start yesterday.

Who's life are you living? The one you wanted, or someone else's? Remember behind every great success, failure is one step in the path along the way. Luck is an illusion, each success is the product of hard work, sacrifice, and careful planning. Here's to your success and your life's purpose!

-Melissa English

Melissa English is an author, screenwriter, and publisher based in the Los Angeles and Atlanta, GA areas. Follow her on Twitter @englishgirl777.

Why Failure Is Not an Option!

By Melissa English

Why Failure Is Not an Option!

Failure is never an option.  Imagine how things in our world would be different if people gave up when things got too hard.  Imagine if there were no cars, no vaccines for some of the most deadly diseases in the world.  Thomas Edison was one of the smartest men in the history of the United States, he had over 1,000 patents in his name.  He knew he was going to fail, what he also knew is that if he was able to keep trying over and over again he would eliminate all of the ways that did not work and instead would find the way that did.

Failure is something that every human being needs to get used to experiencing over and over again.  However, the main question is, how do you react to that failure....do you get up and redouble your efforts?  Or do you fall on your face and allow for others to call you out and tell you that they should be able to rule you?

At the end of the day, this is the golden age of opportunity, the virtual world has opened avenues and dreams that even ten years ago seemed like science fiction.  However, you have to realize, no one is going to hand you what you want on a silver platter.  You might as well plan on ending up poor and alone if you are waiting on the lottery, that ship will never come in.  However, you have all you need to write your own ticket to success as well as to the life you have always wanted.  Give up on allowing others to dictate what you should be doing and realize that you have the life you have settled for.  If you want to change it, it is up to you.  Failure is never an option!  Only finding a new way to live your life and taking the right steps to end mediocrity.

Scarcity is the illusion of the media.  You have the ability to create new revenue streams and live the life you envision.  It is up to you to simply take the bull by the horns and make it happen.  This is your time, your day, don't waste it.  If people do not see your vision and call you crazy, get rid of them, they do not have the ability to think and see the big picture.

Imagine a world without those willing to take risks: without all of the innovators who have redefined reality and history!  The world would be a very different and one-dimensional place.  What list do you want to be on?  Do you want to be on the innovator or the mediocre list?  As Robin Sharma says, "Non expressed potential will become pain later in life," it will also be regret!  Live each day as if it were your last!