What It Means To Just Be In The Moment And Why It Is Important

I once came across a Richard Branson post on social media that went something along the lines of… Be in the moment because this moment right now is your life.

I can’t remember the full post, but ever since I have been trying to live my life in this way. Of course, sometimes is harder than others especially running a business, having two podcasts and the day to day stuff that life puts your way.

However, when I came across this post about two years ago it really hit home to me. So much so I actually recorded a YouTube video on the subject that you can watch here.

It really hit home to me because if we did just pause for a moment and take a look at our lives, I’m sure we would see that we are constantly just doing. We are constantly in “do mode”.

As someone else said to me over a year ago… we are human BEings, NOT human DOers!

This year, I’ve really tried to become more conscious to be in the moment and finding that deep level of inner peace. And, it’s been amazing. Especially in the last few months.

For me, I mostly find a deep level of inner peace during the morning – it might be different for you.

I don’t want to get away from the fact that action is the single most important thing that is going to take you from where you are to where you want to be. If you want to change your life in any way shape or form, you just need to take ACTION!

Procrastination won’t get you there, nor will all the excuses under the sun. The challenge for most people is that they are just “busy” for the sake of being busy and are just in constantly do mode. They aren’t productive nor effective with their time.

And, yeah I am not perfect so sometimes I fall into this.

When most people are in constant do mode they don’t actually take the time to reflect and connect with their inner selves – as I like to call it.

I’ve written on socials and spoke a lot about reflection in the past and will continue to do so as I believe it’s very important for all of us to implement.

Reflection can help us to gain clarity and connect with our inner selves which is important as one reason why I feel most people aren’t in the present moment is because of all of the worries about the past and the future that they have. Once you get into the habit of reflecting on everything that has been and knowing what to improve on in the future most of the worries go away because you have clarity. You step into a new degree of confidence.

Of course, meditation, mindfulness and similar practices help with being in the moment. I meditate every morning using an app called CALM which is amazing and has helped me to change my life and be more in the moment.

When we can return to the moment, not worrying or thinking about the past or the future but just the moment that we are we tend to appreciate the moment a lot more. Life is an amazing thing, and even just as I am writing this, I’m thinking about how amazing and beautiful it actually is and a smile goes across my face.

I’m not saying it’s easy. I’m saying it’s amazing and beautiful and when you’re able to fully focus on the moment that you are in you will notice it too – I’m confident about that.

As I mentioned before, each moment that you are in is your life. Your life isn’t 5 years in the future or your past. It’s this moment right now as you’re reading this article.

Life is made up of moments and experiences. And, we can decide how we interpret these moments and experiences. Most people don’t understand that and many more believe life just happens to them.

I get annoyed, frustrated and then a little sad when I hear people talk in this way or see people live their lives in this way. Not sad as in tears or anything but sad as in people get themselves into a place where they actually believe this! It’s just sad and I feel sorry for them because I know what’s possible!

Living your life where you wait for things to happen and just let life happen “to you” isn’t being in the moment. Most people who I know who live their lives in this way are deeply unhappy even if they don’t want to admit it to themselves.

Living your life in the moment, as I mentioned before, means that you’re grateful for the moment you’re in, and also has a lot to do with purpose and vision. Let me explain…

When you have a purpose or a calling – call it what you will and you have a vision meaning you know what you want your life to look like, feel like and be like I believe you’re able to live in the moment a lot more.

Why?

Because you know where you’re going!!

You don’t have to do all the other “things” that 99% of other people do that keeps them busy, overwhelmed and in constant do mode because you know the handful of things you need to get done to not only survive but thrive!

You don’t only appreciate every moment that you’re in because you realise that, that moment is your life but you also appreciate every moment because you know it’s taking you closer to towards your vision and fulfilling your purpose even more.

Many people have a vision without living in the future – just in case you were wondering. It can sound a little odd to some… have a vision for where I want to go aka the future and live in the moment… how is that possible?

It’s funny because people that I know who live in the future live in the future over things that personally I don’t think that matters and an example would be that most people live in the future over things like, well if I do A, B or C then my best friend, brother or boss are going to do this or think that. They live in the future by worrying about the god damn future not because they have a vision for their life!

Ultimately, the point here is to breathe a little more and not be in constant do more.

Go for a walk to see nature….

Spend some quality time with your family or friends…

Start meditating and connecting with your inner self…

Just start to be in the moment more because this moment is your life. Not your past, and not 5 years into the future. This moment right now!

Until next time,

Luke Burrows