The moment you are currently in will never come again. This can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on where you are in your life. If you’re having a hard time, know that you will get through the difficult moments and find health and happiness in sobriety. If you’re farther along on your recovery journey, you may find that you aren’t living in the moment as much as you should. Wherever you are, take the opportunities that the present moment offers and seize the day. Let go of your worries and focus on what you can control, leaving the rest behind. Your recovery won’t be a straight line, but you can benefit by consistently allowing yourself to live in the moment.
Stop Being a Time Traveler
Where do you live? We aren’t talking about geographical location, but rather your mindset. Do you find that you are often sad or angry? This could be a sign that you are living in the past. Or do you find that you are often anxious or afraid? This could be a sign that you are living in the future. The more you immerse yourself in different emotions and memories, the farther you stray from the present moment. While reflecting on your past or planning for the future is necessary, the past and future should not be where you are spending most of your time. It’s fine to visit here and there, but you should find that you live in the present moment. You aren’t a time traveler — come back home.
How Much of the Moment are You Enjoying?
If you’re living in the past or the future, you aren’t giving yourself permission to enjoy the moment that you are in. While there’s always room for improvement, some people need a bit more help than others. Letting go of the stress you have no control over can be scary to try at first. Still, it’s a truly liberating experience when you realize the freedom you have to be present and enjoy the current moment. Answer the following questions truthfully. Then, think about how you can take your mindset a step further to help you enjoy the moment.
- You receive a nasty message out of the blue from a friend or acquaintance. How do you handle this situation? How does the news impact the rest of your day?
- You are going on a trip and realize that you forgot to pack an essential item once you have arrived at your destination. How do you solve this dilemma?
- You find out about a relative who is very sick. What is your thought process upon hearing that they are ill? What steps, if any, will you take in the next few days?
- You had plans with a friend, but they had to cancel at the last minute. How do you handle the inconvenience? What do you do in your free time?
- You hear that your company is laying people off, but you don’t know if you are one of those layoffs. How does this impact your productivity? What will you do if you find out you are getting laid off?
It’s important to remember that there are no wrong answers to these questions. Everyone handles different situations in different ways. You might have an effective way of dealing with four of these scenarios, but you might struggle with one of them. That’s okay! It’s important to ask yourself these questions, so you have a baseline. At this point, you know where you can improve, and you can start working on making small, manageable changes that will help you regain your power and live in the present moment.
Capture This Moment
Now that you know which areas of your life you can improve in, it’s time to figure out actual changes you can make to help you get to where you want to be. The overarching theme is that you want to do the very best you can to live in the moment. You won’t be perfect, so try not to get tripped up over a mistake. If you make a mistake, acknowledge it and move on. You’ll be better next time.
To start living more in the moment, think about what is essential for you and your recovery. If you’re spending lots of time on something that isn’t serving you and helping you reach your goals, you might want to reassess where you’re spending your time. If something isn’t helping you maintain your sobriety, let it go. You can only carry so many things with you at one time, so focus on the important stuff. You aren’t a time traveler anymore, so you don’t have a suitcase to help you carry things you don’t need at the moment. Focus on the present and collect experiences and wisdom, not insignificant items.
Another critical piece of the puzzle you need to help you live in the present moment is to let go of expectations and judgments. Because you aren’t a time traveler, you cannot predict the future. Holding yourself to the expectations that you had in the past will not help you live and enjoy the present moment. If something doesn’t go the way you had planned, try not to judge or punish yourself for it. Take each moment as it comes and enjoy what you have now. Treat yourself with the compassion that you would give to a good friend. You deserve to treat yourself with love and respect. The better relationship you have with yourself, the better able you are to live in the moment.
Do you feel like you’re never truly living in the present moment? It’s not uncommon to feel an abundance of emotions about the past or feel anxious about what the future holds. Sober Life can help guide you back to the present moment by helping you pursue the goals that will help you live in sobriety. If you are struggling with substance abuse, we can help. Call Sober Life today at (619) 542-9542 to speak with our understanding and talented staff. We cannot wait to speak with you and get you the help you need. You deserve to live a healthy, happy, and sober life that you can take pride in. Don’t wait for a seemingly perfect sign to get help. This is your sign. Call Sober Life today; you won’t be disappointed!
