In an age in which many people lead fast-paced lives, spend large amounts of time commuting, and are “plugged in” to a vast information network that never sleeps, there is an intense thirst out there to rediscover what it’s like to just savour the moment, or live in the present. This might explain the extraordinary popularity of “mindfulness” gurus, courses, and books. But what exactly is the value of of being “mindful” or living in the moment? And how can someone living in this fast-paced, ambitious, technologically advanced, and hyper-connected world learn to live in the moment, without withdrawing into monastic life?
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What does it mean to “live in the moment”?
The best way to explain the notion of “living in the moment” is probably to contrast it with the opposite: living in an absent-minded way. It is very easy to be so focused on hopes and fears about the future, one’s path to success and social recognition, and automated, routine activities like driving and brushing one’s teeth, that one is largely absent from the present moment. One is physically present, one may respond and perform one’s tasks, but one is not fully alive to the present and all of the promise it holds out.
A classic example of absent-mindedness is someone who is so immersed in his work that his family and friends, and their immediate needs, are almost invisible to him. A classic literary example of absent-mindedness is a character named “Mrs Jellby” from Charles Dickens’ Bleak House. She was “a lady of very remarkable strength of character, who devoted herself…to an extensive variety of public subjects, at various times, and is at present (until something else attracts her) devoted to the subject of Africa; with a view to the general cultivation of the coffee berry – and the natives.” Yet at the same time, when one of her own children fell down the stairs, Mrs. Jellyby failed to even notice because her eyes “had a curious habit of seeming to look a long way off. As if they could see nothing nearer than Africa.”
To live in the moment would be to devote the lion’s share of one’s conscious mental and emotional energies to that which is unfolding right now, in one’s presence, not just as a detached observer, but as an active and attentive participant. This does not mean that one does not think about the past or future, or make plans, or orient one’s present actions toward goals to be achieved in the future. Rather, it means that one manages one’s emotional and mental life in such a way that in spite of its extraordinary complexity, the present moment and all that it entails is prioritised and put in focus, much as a photographer puts his subject in focus without losing sight of the larger scene.
Why live in the moment?
What is the value of living in the moment? I’m sure each reader could offer their own answer to this question. But fundamentally, I think the value of living fully immersed in the “now,” is that one is living in direct contact with the most real part of one’s life. The person who constantly relives their past or spends all their time imagining a brighter future is living in a fantasy world that is removed from the reality of their everyday life. That fantasy world evidently has a certain appeal, but it leaves one terribly empty and hungry. One must find meaning in the present moment, or not at all, because the present moment is what life has to offer.
Another vital aspect of living in the present is learning to love. If one lives totally immersed in the past or future, one cannot love those around us in the here and now, be they one’s romantic partner, spouse, family, friends, or colleagues. Much as Mrs Jellyby’s eyes were fixated on Africa rather than her own children, many of us are excessively immersed in our Spotify music, our Whatsapp chats, our Twitter feeds, or our online shopping, blurring our vision of the people right beside us, in the here and now.
Living in the present, while making plans for the future, requires inner poise and equilibrium. It is so easy to fixate on our plans for the future to the point of ignoring or devaluing the present moment. And it can be tempting to enjoy the present moment without planning for the future. But like it or not, we have to do both. The challenge is to responsibly plan for the future while immersing ourselves fully in the present. I doubt very much this is possible unless one takes time out from one’s busy schedule, on a daily basis, to recollect oneself in silence and be consciously alive to the present moment.
Being present is an art, and like all arts, it can only be perfected with practice.
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On Living in the Moment
Great reminder!
I agree- great reminder. I’ve noticed some people being so focused on the present moment (as in - watching the rapid unfolding of global events on their devices) that they become tuned out of what’s going on in their immediate circle. I have found myself getting sucked in to that vortex at times. Definitely find it helpful to turn everything off...including my own thoughts, take a few purposeful breaths, and simply be where I am (especially powerful when out in nature)