What Does “Living In The Moment” Really Mean?

Last updated on: October 13, 2015 at 9:08 am by Debra Landwehr Engle

What Does “Living In The Moment” Really Mean? 2015-10-13T09:08:01-05:00 Debra Landwehr Engle

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Recently I had the pleasure of speaking at the Unity Church of Joplin and presenting a workshop there. It was a day of generous hospitality, beautiful music and a terrific potluck—a hard-to-beat combination.

During the workshop, a participant asked an excellent question. She’s been advised to live in the moment, but being recently widowed, she’s not sure what that means.
Is she supposed to forget all the years of her marriage?

Is she supposed to throw away the photos and mementoes and simply live for today?
Is she supposed to pretend that her late husband no longer is a presence in her life?
I loved the questions because they’re ones I’ve pondered, too. Does remembering the past mean we’re not in the moment?

And what about planning for the future? Are we supposed to give up our calendars and schedules—and even our dreams of what the future could hold?

Maybe this will help:

Living in the moment doesn’t mean erasing the past or thinking it’s not important. You are the sum and substance of every experience and relationship you’ve had up to this very moment, and all of it matters.

It also doesn’t mean walking blindly into the future or ignoring your dreams and plans.

Living in the moment means that we don’t get stuck in the past or the future. It means we don’t limit ourselves with old beliefs or let guilt and shame rule our decisions.

Living in the moment means being liberated from the baggage that can get in our way. It means looking at those old photos and mementoes and celebrating what they represent, knowing they contribute to but do not limit who you are today.

Living in the moment doesn’t mean throwing all caution to the wind. It means drawing on the strength within you each and every moment to celebrate who you are—and to honor your relationships, build a business, explore your creativity, love your kids or enjoy a beautiful day.

Living in the moment means being present so you can witness the miracles of everyday life without the distractions of fear clouding your view.

Here are three things to bring you into the present moment.

Take a deep breath, look around you, and give thanks for everything you see without judgment or beliefs from the past.
Sit quietly, feel your heart beating and remember that you deserve to be here, exactly as you are.
Ask for your fear-based thoughts to be healed, something like this: “Please heal my fear-based thoughts so I can wipe the slate clean of old guilt and future worry, giving myself the gift of peace and joy in the present moment.”

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