Slow Down and Enjoy the Moment

A few weeks ago, I ventured on this new challenge of creating a personal growth mindset. More specifically, I decided to slow down in order to feel more. It’s a great one, really. Be aware and live in the present moment as much as possible.

When you eat, try and only eat. When you walk with a friend, be fully present with that person. When you wash the dishes, try and concentrate on just doing the dishes.

This is one of the principles taught in Buddhism, be aware and live in the present moment as much as possible. The principle is great. Now, here are some things that may occur when you live in the moment.

First, you may find yourself checking your cell phone less, you may feel more connected to your food, and as a repercussion you may eat less, you may find yourself feeling deeper connections with close ones, and so on.

Now, every story has 2 sides… When you choose the path of presence in the moment, you may find yourself feeling more, as much positive and negative emotions. It may become harder to trick yourself into believing that everything is going well in your life, if in fact it may not be going as well.

As an example, if you in fact don’t really enjoy your job, it may become more evident if you become more present. When you live in the moment, every emotion is lived to its maximum, now that can be an amazing venture as it can equally be a more difficult one. At the same time, every experience can become an opportunity to deal and resolve the things that actually need resolving in your life.

Living in the present is absolutely amazing and it can be extremely revealing, rewarding and extraordinary. Please simply be aware that negative emotions such as avoidance, denial, guilt, may also surface and they are simply another facet of life.

One thing that I find helped me a lot when facing these types of emotions was a daily meditation practice, some type of physical exercise and an amazing support system.

Difficult times are an unavoidable part of life. Take a moment to look back on your life and remember the tough times, were you able to surmount them? Did they show you something in the end, perhaps even maybe made you stronger?

A vase is half full or half empty in the end, it is simply our individual perception that determines how we see it. So which one will you choose to concentrate on?