Live in the moment Hikayeyi takip edin

I am a firm believer in living life, that there is a huge difference between living and simply existing. There are many reasons to live in the moment, but first, it's important to note that even that term doesn't mean the same thing to everyone. For me living life in the present is part of living life to the fullest. The two aren't exact synonyms, but they are closely related. You can't live life to the fullest if you don't even know how to slow down and live in the moment. For some people living in the moment means just slowing down and pacing through the day with more deliberation. Others believe living in the moment automatically means looking for a little adventure, a little something extra to make that day a little different and more distinct than a normal run through the scheduled day.

Learning to live in the moment can mean getting up early to enjoy the beauty of an early sunrise, going for a hike instead of watching TV, or picking up a hobby that destroys any trace of boredom . . . or maybe it's time for a long adventurous vacation.

Have you ever felt like others don’t understand your pain when they see to be living a happy life? You’re not alone in feeling this way, but the truth is that happiness takes work, and learning how to live life to the fullest takes dedication and practice. People who smile in public have been through every bit as much as people who cry, frown, and scream. They just simply found the courage and strength to smile through it and enjoy life in the best way possible. Life is short, and we only live once. Learning to live life to the fullest is an important step in making the most of every day.

In our current twenty-first century lives, it’s not easy. There’s always something coming up that we need to prepare for or anticipate, and our lives are so well-documented that it’s never been easier to get lost in the past. Given the fast pace and hectic schedules most of us keep, a base level of anxiety, stress, and unhappiness is the new norm. You may not even realize it, but this tendency to get sucked into the past and the future can leave you perpetually worn out and feeling out of touch with yourself. The cure for this condition is what so many people have been saying all along: conscious awareness and a commitment to staying in the “now.” Living in the present moment is the solution to a problem you may not have known you had. You might be thinking that this all sounds great, but what does it actually mean to “live in the present moment?” How could we be living in anything but the present?

Life is full of distractions. Today’s technological advances have created a sometimes unnecessary sense of instant gratification. In fact, the term “multitasking” has never been more prominent. However, one of the most important lessons that I have learned throughout my career is to make sure you are present in the moment. We have all been in situations where life distracts you. For example, you may have spent a lot of time and money to fly to another country to attend a global forum where you have the opportunity to learn from some of the most successful leaders of today’s time. During the conference, an “emergency” happens at the office, causing you to spend the majority of your time in the hotel lobby on the phone talking about the best response to an angry customer, instead of being inspired and learning things that will actually make an impact in your overall growth. This isn’t to say the customer isn’t important and responding isn’t necessary, but sometimes we have to make choices, and perhaps a more effective approach would be to have someone you trust handle the issue or simply let the customer know their issue would be addressed later that night. Chances are you will still be able to rectify the situation, but being present at the conference could be the difference between just keeping your business alive or taking it to the next level.

That is not to say that being present is easy. Life can be very distracting at times and is perfectly happy to throw some curves into your meticulously well-organized plans. We are all busy, trying to balance work, personal matters and our own individual needs. In a way, it almost feels natural to worry about what else is going on around you. We tend to experience FOMO — fear of missing out. If we don’t check our phones, we might miss an important call, or if we don’t check Twitter, we might fall behind on the latest political scandal. However, if you are always focusing on what is happening around you, you will never be able to appreciate what is happening now, right before your eyes.

I have been in way too many business meetings where the person I am meeting with is easily distracted by today’s noise. They are constantly checking their mobile phone, smartwatch or even their laptop. It makes it difficult to build a relationship and trust with that individual, which is typically the basis for any deal.

Luckily, we all have the ability to live in the present, to be mindful of where we are and what we are doing, to take it all in. In fact, I can guarantee that everyone reading this has experienced this feeling at least once in their lives. The hard part is accessing this ability on a consistent basis.

A key to achieving mindfulness is practicing meditation. Meditation increases our awareness and gives us a more positive perspective of what goes on in our minds and in our surroundings. It will make your attention and focus more defined, allowing you to manage your stress and impulses more proficiently. It is not about emptying your mind and turning off your thoughts, but rather spinning them in a way where you can observe and understand them in a constructive manner. Once you’re at this level, your consciousness and cogitation will be highly improved, making you a more efficient worker. After all, how are you supposed to rapidly think and process numerous pieces of information if you don’t have a clear and calm mind?

Aside from a clear mind, mindfulness also gives us the ability to understand and control our emotions. This might not seem like a big deal, but you don’t want to make important decisions when your emotions are high. Important business decisions must be done with a clear mind after careful consideration of all the options. Taking the time to comprehend your frustrations and identify when to take a step back could be a lifesaver. One decision could change everything, for better or for worse.

There will always be a million things to do at any given moment. There will be times when you have hectic and overwhelming schedules and moments when you feel like there is not enough time in the day to accomplish everything that needs to be done. Nothing will change that; that is just how life works. However, if you take a step back and keep your mind present, you will be more effective. Remember that everything else that is going on will still be there in an hour or two. To make the most of your current situation, you need to give it your all, and that includes being completely present in the moment.

When we concentrate our attention on the present we focus on the task at hand. We give our full attention to what we are doing and we let go of outcomes.

Seizing each moment in life allows us to prolong its value and make it more meaningful. Rather than seeking quantity of time, when we live in the moment we enjoy and savor every minute. We don't sacrifice quality for quantity.

Of course, this doesn't mean we don't need to plan, set goals or prepare for the future. We can do all of these things and still enjoy each moment as it unfolds.

For instance, if we have set a goal to exercise each day, we would carry on with it while enjoyingthe actual process, or moment, of exercising (or at least be in the moment of it).

When we train ourselves to live in each moment, we immerse ourselves in it and begin to discover its beauty and wonder. We learn how to focus and howmanage our energy. Professional athletes understand and employ this kind of focus very well. They know that accomplishment and success are a result of the skillful management and balancing of energy.

To make every moment count we must embrace it. Everything we do and every person we come in contact with deserves our full attention. Even when resting we should savor the moment. It gives us the opportunity to recharge, renew and gain clarity.

Quite often we put huge expectations on ourselves and our lives. We rush to do this, hurry up with that, without actually enjoying the process. What's the rush? Where do we think we're going?

If we don't stop and think about where we're at, we're probably missing the point. Instead, when we appreciate each moment and garner the lessons from it, we live consciously, purposefully and responsibly.

Likewise, when we live in the past and don't let go of painful experiences, perceived wrongs, or difficult times, we condemn ourselves to a present and future of the same. We cannot change the past. We can, however, come to terms with it, know that it's over, and move on.

Living in the moment means letting go of the past and trusting in the future. When we are positiveand optimistic in the present, we open the possibility of a positive and promising future. We owe it to ourselves to make every moment count - now!

Being in the present moment, or the “here and now,” means that we are aware and mindful of what is happening at this very moment. We are not distracted by ruminations on the past or worries about the future, but centered in the here and now. All of our attention is focused on the present moment (Thum, 2008).

As author Myrko Thum tells it, the present moment is all there truly is:

“The present moment is the only thing where there is no time. It is the point between past and future. It is always there and it is the only point we can access in time. Everything that happens, happens in the present moment. Everything that ever happened and will ever happen can only happen in the present moment. It is impossible for anything to exist outside of it.”

Why is Being Present Minded Important?

Being present minded is the key to staying healthy and happy. It helps you fight anxiety, cut down on your worrying and rumination, and keeps you grounded and connected to yourself and everything around you. Although it has become a popular topic in recent years, living in the present is not just a fad or trendy lifestyle tip, it is a way of life that is backed up by good science.

Being present and exerting our ability to be mindful not only makes us happier, it can also help us deal with pain more effectively, reduce our stress and decrease its impact on our health, and improve our ability to cope with negative emotions like fear and anger. (Halliwell, 2017).

Luckily, being present appears to live up to all the hype. Here’s why.

It can make it easier to manage stress

Many people respond to emotional distress and uncertainty by disengaging from the source. It can certainly seem counterintuitive to stay present when you feel anxiousor nervous. Distracting yourself from unwanted or unpleasant thoughts can bring short-term relief.

But you can’t permanently hide from reality. Acknowledging fears and stress triggers, and working to mindfully accept them, can have more benefit in the long run.

A 2016 studyof 143 adults found evidence to suggest cultivating present-moment awareness could make it easier to cope not only with a single stressful event, but also later stress on the same day as well as stressful events in the future.

It may help relieve mental health symptoms

According to research from 2019, mindfulness practices, including present-moment awareness, may help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

When you focus on the present moment, you’re paying attention to the things currently happening. These events might range from joyous to downright heartbreaking (or anywhere in between).If you’re going through a tough time, you might understandably wonder how increasing your awareness of these experiences can benefit you.

Mindfulness helps you recognize anxious or depressed thoughts as just that: thoughts. Eventually, you can learn to recognize these thoughts as you notice them and interrupt their patterns before they trap you in a spiral of distress.

It can strengthen your relationships

Ever spent time with a friend or partner who kept looking at their phone or saying, “Sorry, what?” Maybe you’ve been the one to lose the train of a conversation when you had something else on your mind.Everyone gets distracted from time to time, but when this happens often, it can negatively affectrelationships.

No one wants to feel ignored. If you constantly seem distracted or disinterested in what your loved ones have to say, they may start to think you don’t really care.

Living a full life, to me, means that I’mreallytherefor as many moments as possible, that I’m not checked out because I’m burnt out, that I’m not doing things that I think I should do or whizzing through life checking off all of the to-dos. When I’m standing at Glacier Point I want to really be there. I want to let it soak in and attempt to see the majestic beauty that can be difficult to find amongst a clamoring crowd with selfie-sticks. I want to try to stand there in that moment and take in that beauty and really feel myself there, even if that means I don’t get to make it to the waterfalls or the lake or the beautiful meadow everyone says I have to see.

To me, living a full life means that I’m immersed in the human experience.

It means that I don’t repress my emotions because I’m scared of the pain. It means that I let go of the concern of being liked by others and focus more onme liking myself. It means that I give my mind space to see people differently, to see myself differently, and to give us all the benefit of the doubt. It means that I’m willing to say yes when I want to say no because I know that the yes will serve me. It means that I’m willing to say no when I feel obligated to say yes because I know that boundaries mean everything when it comes to living a healthy life. It means that I’m willing to put in hard work when I need to and to walk away when I need to, too. It means that my life may not be easy, but it’s worth it.

Most people come to this realizationtoo late. They live their lives unconsciously or they live their lives waiting for something to change but they do nothing to change it. On their deathbeds they wish they had livedthe lives their souls were calling for, they wish they had the courage to share their voices, and they wish they had allowed themselves to be happier. We can easily get to our deathbeds by running past all the sites and not really being there. We can stand in a crowd but never be heard. We can smile without really being happy. But we can also choose something different. In this moment right now we can give ourselves lives worth living.

I am always working on myself, always looking for the lessons I’m learning and the ways in which I can become a better version of myself. I do this with love in my heart and acceptance of who I am now.

It’s the tightrope walk between growth and self-acceptance, and it’s truly a magical process.

I am always delightfully surprised by what else I’m here to learn. Just yesterday I arrived back home in LA after a beautiful two day trip to the high desert. There have been little threads that I’ve been picking up on lately, most specifically this feeling that something is big is shifting within me. Last night, while rinsing the desert dust off my body, I felt a clear knowing that I need more interior exploration. I’ve been giving a lot of myself lately. I’m in the process oflaunching a couple coursesandgiving supportto my incredible clients. I’m feeling so deeply fulfilled and rewarded in doing this work and being a support system for others, but to help balance myself out I need even more time and attention to focus inward.

For me, living the fullest life I can live means that I’m in balance. I have to be in balance in order to give myself to others. I have to look inward, then out, and then back in again. I have to allow myself to be in flow with the universe. Living a full life isn’t about making all the pit stops, taking the tourist photos, and sharing them onInstagram(although that’s fun!). It’s about being deeply imbedded in my life, being willing to be self-aware enough to see when I’m off track, and having the courage to course correct again and again.

It also means that I open myself up to support when it’s time. It’s been a while since I’ve worked one-on-one in a mentoring capacity with someone, and it’s something I’ve been feeling a yearning for. I recently began working with my friend and incredibleReiki practitioner, Cara Manuele. I’m looking for more guidance and support in my life right now because I know it’s going to help me step more fully into my own power. Anytime I’ve opened myself up to the support I’ve been guided to it’s helped me move through big life transitions. I can feel I’m brimming, a big shift is happening, and I know support during this time is going to help me step into my power more steadily.

I’m also stepping more deeply into my role as a support system for you. You may have noticed I’m engaging more intimately through my newsletter and encouraging you to respond directly to me. I also have a few open spots forone-on-one workif you’re in a place like I am right now. If you feel like things are moving for you, I highly recommend finding support. It might be me or it might be someone else who’s been on your radar. Take a moment to reflect on your life. Notice if you’ve been flip flopping, if you feel ungrounded, if you keep waiting for change to happen to you. Now imagine yourself being supported by someone while you step into your own power. Imagine your life transforming and you finally sharing your voice, healing your wounds, and accepting yourself.

Head over to the website of the person who feels like they would best support you right now (here’s information about working with me) and hear their messaging. See if it feels right. Any time I have allowed someone to mentor me, and I’ve earnestly let their guidance in, I’ve changed significantly. Give yourself permission to live a full life, to have someone support you as you walk through the fire, and to land on the other side a deeper, more expanded human being.

In Addition...

Living Life to the Fullest Does Your Heart Good

Living a heart-healthy lifestyle may not be as difficult as you think. In fact, all you need to do is look around and take advantage of all of the good things life has to offer. In celebration of National Heart Month in February, Village at Proprietors Green is placing emphasis on ways to stay heart healthy.

The food we eat is a prime example. Some of the most appetizing culinary options not only tantalize your taste buds, but also provide vital vitamins and nutrients, keep weight and blood pressure in check, and help prevent heart disease. Picture a colorful medley of freshly picked vegetables, sweet and succulent fruits, and the catch of the day grilled or broiled to perfection. Or, if you prefer meat, chicken, turkey and yes, even lean red meats are good options.

Recent research shows that eating lean (without much fat) beef can actually lower bad cholesterol in the blood, which is good for your heart. Sure, all of us should limit fried fare, prepackaged foods, and anything that says saturated fat or trans fat, but with so many tastier options, you’re not too likely to miss them. Village at Proprietors Green is known for its excellent meal selections, with chef-prepared cuisine made with your health in mind.

How about a cocktail before dinner or when socializing with friends? The heart-healthy benefits of red wine have been touted for quite some time. Now researchers are reporting that other alcoholic beverages (consumed in moderation) seem to hold the same benefits. So whether your beverage of choice is red wine, white wine, beer, or a cocktail, most people can go ahead and enjoy a drink. Of equal importance, however, is the fine line between doing the heart good and contributing to other health issues. Studies have shown that women should limit alcohol to no more than one drink a day, and the limit for men is two. As always, because individual health circumstances may dictate otherwise and because some medications react with alcohol, checking in with your personal physician about any potential restrictions is always a good idea.

Another example of how all of us can reap heart-healthy benefits by simply enjoying life relates to what we do during the day. The official recommendation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of at least 150 minutes of moderate activity each week may sound daunting, bringing to mind visions of pounding out miles on a treadmill or a stationary bike. If, however, your preference is to enjoy the company of friends, pursue new interests, or stay engaged in your favorite hobbies, you are likely to achieve, and perhaps surpass, the recommended guidelines without giving it much thought. Village at Proprietors Green offers many options for staying physically active. Residents may enjoy the fitness center or a fitness class. Our community’s full-time activities director arranges for ballroom dancing classes, Wii bowling and Zumba. Additionally, Village at Proprietors Green offers onsite physical therapy.

If you do need to step it up a bit, putting your focus on having more fun rather than getting more exercise is likely to achieve the desired result—getting your body moving on a regular enough basis to maintain, and even improve, heart health. One recent study found that a five-minute walk every hour may reverse damage to arteries caused by sitting for long periods.

When weather permits, residents at Village at Proprietors Green can be seen walking on the sidewalks with their friends around the senior living community. Walking with others can motivate you to keep moving, inspire you to try other activities, and result in health benefits such as lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure and a healthy weight—all of which lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and other health issues.

Living a lifestyle that makes your heart happy is the key to keeping your heart healthy. Take advantage of every opportunity to enjoy life to the fullest and you will be doing your heart good.

Here are 101 ways to live your life to the fullest:

• Live every day on a fresh new start. Don’t be held back by what happened yesterday, the day before, the week before, the year before, or even decades ago. Life is short, so live in the present moment.
• Be true to who you are. Stop trying to please other people or to be someone else. It’s better to be an original version of yourself rather than be an exact duplicate of someone else.
• Quit complaining. Don’t be likethe howling dog, always howling and never doing anything. Stop complaining about your problems and work on them instead.
• Be proactive. Stop waiting for others around you to do something and take action yourself instead.
• Rather than think “what if,” think “next time.” Don’t think about the things you can’t change. Instead focus on the thingsyoucanact on. That’s the most constructive thing you can do in any situation.
• Focus on WHAT vs. How. Focus onWHAT you want first, before you think about HOW to do it. Anything is possible as long as you set your mind, heart, and soul to it.
• Create your own opportunities. You can wait for opportunities, or you can get out there and create your own. The latter is definite and much more empowering.
• Live consciously each day. Stop sleepwalking through life. Your life is something to be experienced, not coasted through.
• Be committed to your growth. Take courses. Self-reflect. Build on your strengths. Don’t rely on the feeling of familiarity but focus on what will enable you to grow the most.
• Know your inner self. This means knowing who you are and what you represent. Be clear of your personal identity. Read:Finding Your Inner Self.
• Discover your life purpose. Set the mission statement for your life, one that will drive you to live your life to the fullest. Read:How To Find Your Life Purpose(7-part series)
• Live in alignment with your purpose. What can you start doing immediately that will let you live 100% in alignment with your purpose? How can you live true to your purpose within every situation you are in, every second of the day?
• Set your life commandments. Define your personal commandments to live your best life. What adages and principles do you want to follow in your life?
• Discover your values. Values are the essence of what makes you, you.
• Hold yourself to the highest conduct. Every one of us have our own set of ethics and principles. Live true to them every day. Also, live in full alignment with your purpose (#12), commandments (#13) and values (#14).
• Stop putting life on hold. Are youputting any parts of your life on hold? What is one area of your life you have beenputting off,avoiding or denying? Uncover that and start working on it.
• Create yourlife handbook. Your life handbook is your personal manual to live your best life, containing your mission statement, values, goals, personal strengths, blind spots, and action plans. Start off with a few basic pages, and then build on it.
• Design your ideal life. What is your ideal life? Design it. Firstly, assess your life via thelife wheel. Then, ask yourself what it takes to live a 10/10 life. What is the life that will make you shout for joy? There are no limits in life — only those you set for yourself!
• Set your goals. After you design your ideal life, set your 5-year, 3-year, and 1-year goals. The more specific they are, the better!
• Take action on your goals and dreams.Create an action plan for your goals and work on it!
• Create yourbucket list, which is a list of things to do before you die. Then, get out there to achieve them.
• Don’t do things for the sake of doing them. Always evaluate what you’re doing and only do it if there is meaning behind them. Don’t be afraid toquit the things that don’t serve your path.
• Do the things you lovebecause life is too precious to be doing anything else. If you don’t enjoy something, then don’t do it. Spend your time and energy on things that bring you fulfillment and happiness.
• Discover your passion in life. What sets you on fire? Go out there to discover what you love to do. Read:How To Know What You Want To Do In Life
• Make your passion a full-fledged career. Then, start pursuing it. Stop working in a job you feel passionless about. Quit your job when you are ready to do it full-time. Read:How To Pursue Your Passion(series)
• Turn your passion into a huge success. Turn your passion into a multi-million dollar business. Better yet, make it amulti-billion dollar one.
• Learn from criticism. Be open to criticism but don’t be affected by it. Criticism is meant to help you be a better person. Learn from it.
• Be positive. Is the glass half empty or half full? What if I say it’s neither? It’s actually all-full – the bottom half is water, the top half is air. It’s all a matter of perception. Take on perceptions that empower you, not those that bind you. If you can see the positive sideofeverything, you’ll be able to live a much richer life than others.
• Don’t badmouth other people. If there’s something you don’t like about someone, say it to his/her face — otherwise, don’t say it at all. It’s not nice to badmouth others, and it also reflectsa small mind.
• Be empathetic. If everyone only sees life from his/her own perspective, we’ll forever be close-minded and insular. See things from others’ shoes.
• Be compassionate. Show compassion and kindness to everyone around you.
• Develop 100% self-belief. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Remove your limiting beliefs and replace them with empowering ones. If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others to believe in you? Read:How To Be The Most Confident Person In The World
• Let go of unhappy past. This means past grievances,heartbreaks, sadness,disappointments, andanger.
• Forgive thosewho have done you wrong in the past. This includesbackstabbers, those whotook credit for your achievements, and those who have done you wrong. “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and realize it was you.” — Lewis B. Smedes
• Let go of attachments. Don’t get fixated with achieving acertain status, fame,wealth or material possessions. These are impermanent and will ultimately disappear one day when you die. Focus on growing and living life to the fullest instead.
• Let go of relationships that do not serve you. That meansnegative people,dishonest people,people who don’t respect you,people who are overly critical, and relationships thatprevent you from growing.
• Spend more time with people who enable you. Hang out with people whom you compatible with: like-minded people and people who are positive, successful, and positive for your growth. You are after allthe average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.
• Build genuine, authentic connectionswith people around you — friends, family, colleagues, business partners, customers/clients, and acquaintances. Spend time to know them better and foster stronger connections.
• Connect with an old friend. There is no end to the number of friends you can have. Reach out to people from the past.
• Do a kind deed a day. What is something you can do today that will make the world a better place? Go and do it.
• Help other people who are in need. Volunteering is one outlet. You can also start with your friends and family.
• Help people when they least expect it, without reason. You don’t need any reason to help others. Do it because you want to. Share the love with everyone.
• Go dating(if you’re single).
• Fall in love.♥ :) Read:How To Find Your Soulmate(7-part series)
• Review your life.Set a weekly reviewto assess how you are doing for your goals. Review your purpose once every 3-6 months so that you know you’re on the right path.
• Overcome procrastination. Procrastination is a huge waste of your time (and your life). Get rid of it once and for all. Read:How To Overcome Procrastination(5-part series)
• 30 minutes a day. Set aside at least 30 minutes every day to work ona Quadrant 2 goalthat, when you achieve it, will bring about the biggest fulfillment and happiness in your life.Get out there and make new friends— whether at your workplace, online, with friends’ friends, or in social groups. Read:10 Tips To Make New FriendsandCooped Up Indoors? Get a Life with These 7 Tips
• Make deeper connections. Beyond making new friends, aim to make deeper connections. Read:How to Have More Best Friends in Life
• Be your advisor (from the future). Imagine you’re the future you from 5 years later. How would you advise yourself? Write this advice down. Now, apply them.
• Write a letter to your future self. Envision how you’ll be like in the future, one year from now. Write as long as you like. Now, seal it and put it in a safe place. Set a calendar appointment one year from now, so you’ll know to open when it’s time.Watch:Write a Letter to Your Future Self [Video]
• Declutter. Start from your computer, then proceed to your workdesk, your bedroom, and your home. When you throw unwanted stuff away, you make room for new things and new energy to enter your life.
• Keep learning. There is something to learn from everything you see, hear and experience. This includes your mistakes and past misshaps (if any). Learn to interpret each event objectively. Focus on what you can learn from it so that you can apply the lessons moving forward.
• Keep developing yourself. Equip yourself with a huge breadth of knowledge. Learn different skills, pick up different hobbies, study different fields.
• Keep upgrading yourself.Equip yourself with a huge depth of knowledge. While you can usually only reach level 99 in video games, in real life you can level up to infinity. Go for further studies if need be.Develop your skills.Level up. Invest your>10,000 hours each skill.
• Try new things. What is something you would normally not do? Get out of your comfort zone to try something different. It can be something simple like taking a new bus route, trying a new food item, picking up a new hobby, or something bigger like studying in a different field, learning a new skill, and traveling to a country you’ll never visit. There are no limits (except whatever is illegal and morally wrong of course)!
• Get yourselfout there. (a) Get out theregeographically. Go out, travel, and explore the world. Set sail into the sea. Go backpacking by yourself and visit as many countries as possible. Get on a road trip and visit all the places that come up in your trip. (B) Get out theresituationally.Stop sticking to routines and comfort zones. Try something different. (c) Get out therein life.Stopwatching TV andliving vicariously through the TV characters. Go and live the life of your dreams.
• Be the absolute best in what you do. Go for the #1 position in what you do. If you want to spend your time doing something, you might as well be the best in it!
• Don’t settle. In the same vein as #58, don’t settle for less. Don’t settle for someone you don’t like as your partner. Don’t settle for a job you don’t like. Don’t settle for friends who make you feel like a lesser person. Don’t settle for a weight you are unhappy with. Go for what you really want.
• Stretch yourself. What are you doing now? How can you achieve more? Set bigger goals. Explore your limits and break them.
• Embrace new ideas. Don’t mentally limit yourself. Let your mind be a breeding ground for new ideas. Read:25 Brainstorming Techniques
• Create your inspirational haven. Turn your room into a place you love. Do the same for your work desk. Get rid of things that make you unproductive. Surround it with things that inspire you and trigger you into action.
• Behave as your ideal self will. All of us have an ideal vision of who we want to be. What is your ideal self like? How can you start to be your ideal self now?
• Set your role models in life. With role models, you become much better than you can be by yourself. I am personally inspired by Oprah Winfrey (for how she has impacted millions of lives), Lady Gaga (for her talent and not being afraid to be different), Leonardo Dicaprio (for his dedication to his craft and his commitment to environmentalism), and many more. Seeing them and what they do reminds me of what I can be and what I can do, so they drive me to greater heights.
• Get mentors/coaches.There’s no faster way to improve than to have someone work with you on your goals. Not only will they drive you to achieve more, but they’ll also share important advice which you can use to create even more success for yourself. Many of my clients approach me to coach them and the net result is this: they achieve significantly more progress and results than if they had worked alone.
• Uncover your blind spots. The more you uncover, the more you grow, the better you become. Read: Blind Spots In Personal Growth
• Increase your consciousness. Having a high consciousness level means being able to transcend beyond fear-based reactions and to make wise choices that create the most positive impact on both you and others.
• Ask for feedback.As much as we can try to uncover our blind spots (#66), there will be blind spots that we cannot identify. Asking for feedback gives us an added perspective about ourselves. Some people to approach are friends, family, colleagues, boss, or even acquaintances, since they have no preset bias and can give their feedback objectively.
• Generate passive income. Create passive income streams so that your income is not tied to the time you spend on work. Of course you’ll still continue to work, but only because you want to and not because you have to.
• Help others live their best lives. There is no better way to grow than to help others grow. Ultimately, the world is one. We are all in this journey of life together.
• Get married / Start your family / Have kids!
• Improve the world. There are many things in the world that need your help and attention.Poverty. Disaster recovery.Illiteracy.Children in need.Depleting rainforests.Animal rescue.Endangered species.How can you do your part?
• Spearhead a humanitarian cause or organizationthat you are passionate about.
• Give more value than you receive. There is so much unspeakable joy that comes from giving. And when you give, you’ll find that you actually receive a lot more in return, in spades.
• Be big-picture focused.You can either set your eyes on the big things or get hung up by the nitty gritty details. The former will help you get a lot more out of life than the latter. Focus on your big rocks andput first things first.
• Be clear of yourend objective. What is the end goal you seek? Is the task that you’re working on bringing you there? If not, put it aside. As long as you keep working on tasks that match your end goal, you’ll eventually reach there.
• Go the 80/20 route. For every goal you have, there are different paths to achieve it. Pick the 80/20 path, i.e. the most effective path that brings you to your goal with the least amount of effort. Read: How To Achieve More With Less Using The 80/20 Principle (3-part series)9
• Work on the 80/20 actions (Prioritize). As you embark on the 80/20 path for your goals, focus on the important tasks and cut out the less important ones. Work on the 20% actions that give you the 80% results.
• Live in the moment. Do you often have a very busy mind? Calm your mind down. Be present. The only time you’re ever living is in this moment. Meditation helps remove mental clutter. Read: How To Meditate in 5 Simple Steps
• Relish in the little moments. Snuggling under warm covers on a rainy day. Having ice cream on a hot day. A kiss with your loved one. Being with your best friend. A walk by the park. The breeze on your face. Quiet, alone time. Watching the sunrise/set. Soak in all these little moments of life. They are what make up your life.
• Take a break. Being the best also requires you totake breaks when needed. Make sure you rest when needed. Doing so lets you walk the longer road ahead.
• Stop wanting things a certain way. I have a 3-part series on the downsides of perfectionism and how to overcome them. Be firm on your end goals and ideals, but let go of the obsession to have things done a certain way. You’ll realize that when you do so, you achieve what you want. Read:How To Overcome Perfectionism (3-part series)
• Focus on creation. Think about what you can bring to the world and create that.
• Don’t criticize or judge others. Respect others for who they are.
• The only person you can change is yourself. Stop expecting others to behave in a certain way. Rather than demand that others around you change, focus on changing yourself. You’ll be happier and live a more fulfilling life this way.
• Practicegratitude. Be grateful for everything you have today, and everything you will get in the future.
• Express gratitude.Let the people who’ve touched you know about your gratitude toward them. You’ll be surprised what a little act like this can do. If you don’t tell them, they’ll never know.
• Let loose and have fun. Sing at the top of your lungs. Dance in the rain. :DRun barefoot and feel the ground underneath your feet. Hug everyone you know. Release yourself of your self-imposed shackles and be free! :D
• Get into nature. Many of us live in concrete jungles. Get out of the urban city environment and soak in the beauty of nature.
• You have a choice. Recognizeyou always have a choice in how to live your life.
• Laugh more.:D Are you reading this with a straight face? Smile and have fun. :D
• Embrace change. The only thing that’s constant is change. Change means growth. Rather than resist change, learn to be versatile such that you can make the best out of the changes that come. In fact, become an agent of change.
• Be more risk-inclined. Don’t be afraid to take risks. The bigger your risks, the bigger your return.
• Embrace mistakes.The more mistakes you make, the more experience you have, the higher your chances of success. Make sure to identify lessons from each experience so that you can build on them.
• Embrace disappointments. Many people try to avoid feeling disappointed. They develop a negative relationship with disappointment. However, disappointment is part and parcel of being human — it reflects your real emotions. Don’t resist it — instead, embrace it. Learn to channel into your disappointment, emotions, to create more in life. Read:How To Overcome Disappointment (4-part series)
• Challenge your fears. All of us have fears. Fear of uncertainty, fear of public speaking, fear of risk… all these fears keep us in the same position and prevent us from growing. Rather than avoid your fears, recognize that they are the compass for growth. Address and overcome them. Read:4 Reasons We Should Overcome Fear
• Maximize your mind, body, heart and soul. Living your best life requires you to maximize yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. If you are highly successful, have lots of money, have a big circle of friends, and are very spiritually aware but you neglect your physical health, that’s not living your life to the fullest. The same for other scenarios where you block off a part of you. Maximize all 4 aspects of you.
• Be your best self. It’s by being our best self that we can live our life to the fullest.
• Love yourself. You are the one constant in your life. Remember to always treasure and love yourself.♥ You deserve nothing less. Read: How To Love Your Body
• Love others. Be grateful toall the people around you because they help you grow. They enrich your life experience. Without them, your life would not be the same.
• Last but not least: Love life. I find living to be a fascinating experience. How we’re all on earth with millions of species, 30,000 different life forms, and over 7 billion people, and everyone is thriving in their own way, existing, co-existing, and co-creating. There’s so much we don’t know out there and so much to be experienced that it’s just wonderful. As you live on earth, remember to love life. It’s the only way we have to live.

Live in the Moment Quotes & How to Live in the Moment

The proper function of man is to live - not to exist.Jack London

I have come so that you may have life, and have life abundantly.Jesus Christ

Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.James Dean

Make your life itself a creative work of art.Mike Ray,The Highest Goal

You can't behave in a calm, rational manner. You've got to be out there on the lunaticfringe.Jack Welch, retired CEO, GE

We have a "strategic" plan. It's called doing things.Herb Kelleher, founder, Southwest Airlines

To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.Oscar Wilde

I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living, or get busydying."Red," played by Morgan Freeman fromThe Shawshank Redemption

A year from now you may wish you had started today.Karen Lamb

The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.Michelangelo

Walt Whitman:

"A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books."

"And your very flesh shall be a great poem."

"Every moment of light and dark is a miracle."

"If you done it, it ain't bragging."

"Seeing, hearing, feeling, are miracles, and each part and tag of me is a miracle."

"The beauty of independence, departure, actions that rely on themselves."

"To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle. Every cubic inch of space is a miracle."

Unknown (Anonymous)

Enjoy life. This is not a dress rehearsal.

One day at a time--this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Live life so completely that when death comes to you like a thief in the night, there will be nothing left for him to steal.