Living in the moment

The constant buzz of our everyday lives occupies not only our ears but also our minds too. When was the last time we took a minute to pause and look around? Due to the nature of the current age and time, we are all so busy thinking about the uncertain future and dwelling on past events that we often forget to think about the most important thing: the present moment. “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift, that's exactly why they call it  the present.” The lifestyle we live involves a constant stimulus, taking away our attention from the “Now”and spiralling our minds into a cycle of never-ending thoughts.

These stimuli often become escape mechanisms for many people who may not be content with their present reality,’ disconnecting them even more from the present moment. Stress, anxiety, and overthinking are vices that  detriment our lives, demeaning them and drowning us into a series of pessimistic thoughts. I believe that people are so caught up in worries and unknowns that they lead their lives without any conviction or purpose, completely empty and enshrouded with fear.

People forget to focus on what they need to do and instead focus on the problems it would cause if not completed. Such is the duality of our mind wherein we believe we need to finish a task but never complete it because of worrying about what will happen if we don't. As humans, when faced with problems our first instinct is to try and study the problem in detail; although this rather results in a series of challenges in the form of overthinking and anxiety.

We forget that in order to tackle the problem, we must focus on the things we can do now. Overthinking and anxiety stem, in most cases, from things that are out of our control, which many find frightening. Although as suggestive the term is, worrying about it won’t change its uncertainty. Focusing on the things we control not only helps us tackle what’s in front of us but also eliminates unnecessary chains of thoughts that would inhabit our minds. 

Looking around and realising that there’s never going to be a perfect time, is actually incorrect because in reality, the perfect time is now. “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now.” This is a famous Chinese proverb emphasising the importance of doing things in the present moment and eliminating procrastination. At times we may feel overwhelmed by the burden of responsibilities on ourselves but it’s at times like these when we need to simply change our perspective on it. 

The ‘what if’ cycle is truly demonic , trapping us into a series of worries and fear. Let me ask you all a question; when presented to solve a maths equation, can you ignore the order of operations? BODMAS isn't it? Well, the same applies to life; we cannot think about the future and worry about it without performing the calculations that need to be done in the present. 

Multiple studies conducted by professionals, for example a study by the University of California San Diego, found that people who overthink tend to have higher levels of anxiety and depression, and ruminate on their problems more than those who don't. What happens is the moment doubt seeps into our minds about the past or future, it starts to consume our brain leading to eventual chronic depression. Studies show that mindfulness in the present moment  can help with stress, anxiety, and depression. More research is needed to show whether it helps with other mental health conditions, but at its current trajectory, it is the clear solution to many of our current generation’s problems.

Look outside for a minute, take a break. Listen carefully to all the sounds you hear, the cars passing by, the wind whistling, notice everything. Simply breathe. The next time you are faced with a difficult situation, look at what you can do to change it, and act upon it immediately. This is what it means to live in the NOW, and you will also find that the majority of the world's billionaires and successful people practise this and live by it. Motivational speakers such as Tony Robbins quote on quote state that "There is nothing more powerful than a human soul rooted in the present moment, free from the illusion of the past or the future.” 

To conclude our piece we’d like to reinstate the importance of living in the present moment. They say there is no time like the present, and that is factually correct because it's never going to come back. Every second, every minute, every hour, every day, every week, every month, and every year is unique, and no one has the luxury of rewinding time. Time is one commodity no one can buy more of, so it's integral to make the most of it by finding joy and happiness in the NOW rather than regretting past mistakes or worrying about the cloudy future. Uncertainty is never bad; rather, it is a surge of excitement because, well, you never know what's in store for you.

-Aanya Mehta and Heeyana Jhaveri