One Thing You Need to STOP Doing Right Now

There is something that many people do, perhaps all of us at one point or another in our lives, and a lot more often for some people.  Type A driven types are typically really good at doing this.

Want to know what it is?

It is having the thought “I’ll be happy when….”

Fill in the blank with anything for which you want that you don’t have…. Money or financial security, a baby, a spouse, health, weight loss, a degree, a great job, a new boss, a better house, etc.

I was really, really good at doing this to myself.  I constantly postponed my happiness until the next big thing in my life was complete.  But, guess what?  Once you complete that thing, there is always another thing around the corner beckoning you to approach it as fast and studiously as possible with no breaks for fun, contentment, and happiness.

The solution is to FEEL GOOD NOW.  Be in the only moment you have which is the present moment.  The past is not worth spending time in because obviously, that’s a place that exists only in our imperfect memories.  The future is a non-existent place in which to try to live, and I say “try” because it can’t be done!  It only zaps your happiness.  Always striving for something else, something different, something bigger or better is living in the future.  The false premise about living in the future is the idea of hope, which to me means “well, since the present sucks, I might as well live as if there is some magical future out there in which I will be happy.”

Be where you are right now.  Your present moment is probably not so bad if you spend a moment to think about it.  If you are reading this, you most likely aren’t in jail, you have your freedom, you have access to nature and fresh air, you are alive, you probably have people around you or you could go somewhere that has fellow human beings, you probably have enough money to support yourself since you have access to the internet (because I hope you would cancel your digital world before you let yourself be homeless or go hungry!).

Life is pretty darn good in the present moment.  Even in the midst of a chaotic or challenging day, you can only experience it one moment at a time.  You may be THINKING about all of the things you have to get done, but the truth is you can only “do” one thing and one moment at a time.  You could rush through it and think only about what comes next or you could SIMPLY STAY IN THE MOMENT FOCUSING ON THE ONE THING YOU ARE DOING.  Perfection in living, that is, in my opinion.

Staying in the moment and not always rushing through to what comes next and next and next after that takes PRACTICE.  Yes, it’s true.  You can’t get out of practicing it because no one I know can stay in the present moment all of the time….well, maybe my Dad, but I think he is pretty unique in that talent.
It’s a worthy quest.  Be happy now.  Feel good now.  Don’t put it off to a time that you think is coming in the future which is all unicorns and rainbows.  Stop rushing.  Slow down.  Pay attention.  You never know how many moments you have left, and I for one, don’t want to miss any!

Dr. Amy Mercovich