{"id":31323,"date":"2013-02-28T22:13:11","date_gmt":"2013-02-28T22:13:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/?p=31323"},"modified":"2017-05-01T07:56:17","modified_gmt":"2017-05-01T12:56:17","slug":"6-powerful-ways-to-live-in-the-moment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/6-powerful-ways-to-live-in-the-moment\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Powerful Ways to Live in the Moment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Like many people who have gone through a traumatic health scare, cancer survivors face a paradox.<\/p>\n

On one hand, they live with a daily fear that cancer will return or that their futures are now uncertain. On the other hand, many find that cancer has made them appreciate life in both its grand concept and everyday normality all the more.<\/p>\n

Many survivors express their gratitude for \u201cthe little things.\u201d One survivor told me, \u201cI never thought about the feel of wet hair on my neck following a shower.\u00a0 However, while undergoing treatments it was one of the feelings I missed most.\u00a0 Now that I have completed treatment and my hair has grown back, I\u00a0try<\/i>\u00a0and pay attention to that feeling every time I take a shower.\u201d<\/p>\n

I was fascinated by the word \u201ctry,\u201d because it highlighted the reality that even for those who have faced death, appreciating the here and now can be a challenge. We all say that we\u2019re going to savor every second, but remembering the minutes is difficult. Many survivors can attest to the fact that immediately following their return to everyday life, they could honestly tell you that they appreciated the everyday more.\u00a0 However, most often report that it is a feeling that unfortunately begins to dissipate with time.<\/p>\n

I spoke with a parent of a survivor who related that while with each year the very intense memories begin to fade, sadly the lessons learned fade as well.\u00a0 How can we hold on to that feeling? How can each of us bring the feeling of appreciating the here and now, living in the moment, into our daily lives?<\/p>\n

\"mountain<\/a>We live life in the present.\u00a0\u00a0 But so often, the present is overshadowed with our worrying about the future and ruminating over the past.\u00a0 How often do we dream about our next vacation, only to find that we spend the days away from work worrying about what we will find when we return? \u00a0Do we ever take the time to stop and really live in the moment?<\/p>\n

Psychologists at Harvard University set out to prove that living in the moment contributes greatly to one\u2019s level of happiness.\u00a0 They discovered that 50 percent of people don\u2019t live in the moment, and that people spend nearly half their time (46.7%) thinking about something other than what they are actually doing, and that this distraction can actually make us less happy. How often when we commute to work we realize that we are at our exit or train stop, but we don\u2019t really remember the ones we\u2019ve passed?<\/p>\n

Psychologist Matthew A. Killingsworth, lead author of the Harvard study wrote:<\/p>\n

Human beings have this unique ability to focus on other things that aren\u2019t happening right now.\u00a0 That allows them to reflect on the past and learn from it; it allows them to anticipate and plan for the future; and it allows them to imagine things that might never occur. At the same time, it seems that human beings often use this ability in ways that are not productive and furthermore can be destructive to our happiness.<\/em><\/p>\n

In other words, focus on what you\u2019re doing now and you may find your life more satisfying.<\/p>\n

While there is clear benefit to living in the moment, how do we do start, and how to do we sustain it?<\/p>\n

Living in the moment, also called mindfulness, is a state of active, open, intentional attention on the present.\u00a0 Being in the moment can allow us to appreciate the everyday, it can allow us to appreciate the small things, without focusing solely on the mistakes of the past, or the unknown of the future.\u00a0 I would like to propose six steps to help each of us live more in the moment.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Be aware of the world around you<\/b>.\u00a0 Look around.\u00a0 Try and find something beautiful around you.\u00a0 Noticing small things can make even an ordinary routine day a little more beautiful and brighter.\u00a0 Be thankful for these little things.<\/li>\n
  2. Focus on what you are doing<\/b>.\u00a0 Pay attention to your all your senses: attend to what you hear, see, smell.\u00a0 Slow down. Savor the feeling. It may make change how you approach even the mundane chores, from giving the kids a bath to walking home after exiting the train.<\/li>\n
  3. Smile<\/b>.\u00a0 There is scientific evidence that the expressions you make with your face can actually influence how you feel.\u00a0 Smile when you talk and others around you will feel happier too.<\/li>\n
  4. Commit random, spontaneous acts of kindness<\/b>.\u00a0 Better the world around you.\u00a0 Look around and find ways throughout the day to do something good for others.\u00a0 Donate a dollar in the grocery store. Pick up a piece of litter from the ground. Pay someone a compliment.\u00a0 It\u2019s all about being aware of what\u2019s around you, and responding to your environment.\u00a0 These small acts can have a great impact, but unless you are truly living in the present, you won\u2019t even notice the opportunities that are always out there.<\/li>\n
  5. Minimize activities that dull your awareness of the moment<\/b>.\u00a0 Pay attention to what you are doing that generally allows your mind to wander.\u00a0 Are you watching television? Surfing the Internet?\u00a0 Daydreaming and getting lost in a good book isn\u2019t bad, but it\u2019s not living in the moment. Be active, do something that keeps you in the present, not something that allows you to be passive.\u00a0Zone in, not out.<\/li>\n
  6. Be thankful for what is<\/b>.\u00a0 We all wish certain parts of our lives were different, but rather than focus on what we don\u2019t have, focus on what we do have.\u00a0 There is a great quote, \u201cWhat if you woke up today with only the things you thanked G-d for yesterday?\u201d\u00a0 Think about\u00a0all\u00a0<\/i>the things you have in your life you can be thankful for.\u00a0 This will bring you back to the present, rather than thinking of what could have been or what you hope will be.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Created by survivors for survivors,\u00a0R-Mission<\/a>\u00a0is the first program designed to meet the needs of Jewish young adults and adults who have completed treatment for cancer and their families. Through activities and an online community, R-Mission endeavors to help survivors adjust to post-treatment life and explore the totality of their experience within the context of their Jewish identity. For more information or to participate, visit\u00a0www.r-mission.org<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n

    Cheryl Greenberger<\/i><\/b>, Ph.D., is the \u00a0Director of Clinical & Family Services for Chai Lifeline, the international children\u2019s health support network, and Director of R-Mission, a new Chai Lifeline program for cancer survivors and their families.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Even for those who have faced death, appreciating the here and now can be a challenge. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1002,"featured_media":57601,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\n6 Powerful Ways to Live in the Moment - OU Life<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Even for those who have faced death, appreciating the here and now can be a challenge. 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