Written by Daily living is already challenging and complicated. It is hard to manage day-to-day tasks that
range from work to home life. Adding dimensions like past events or present possibilities can
lead to a minefield of emotional and mental challenges. Many philosophies stress the fact that
managing the now is the only thing that can be controlled. Stoic philosophy is principled in this
belief, and it makes absolute sense.
Unfortunately, humans gravitate more towards the uncontrollable. The world leads many to
believe that past events dictate who they are and that preparedness for the future is necessary.
Although both premises are relevant, neither are aspects that we can control. We can influence
our future through decision-making but not change past events or go backward.
The only form of control we can take is how we choose to live in the present moment.
Remember that every second used is representative of the past, so make sure that each of the
86,400 seconds of a 24-hour day is utilized constructively. The best way to do that is to focus on
the moment that one is in and maximize it as best as possible. Understand that doing so
influences the future but does not dictate its outcome.
Taking a view of what I consider moment management is crucial. PsychCentral columnist Sian
Ferguson said, “We’re constantly surrounded by distractions, making it difficult to focus on just
one thing at a time. Stress, anxiety, and regret can also make it difficult to focus on the present
moment. But living in the moment, although difficult, can benefit your relationships,
productivity, and, most importantly, overall wellness.” (Ferguson, 2022) A nine-week study
conducted by professionals from Kent State University, the University of Richmond, and the
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill showed that focusing on the present gave their subjects
a more positive outlook emotionally. The study said, “Results showed that baseline dispositional
mindfulness and perceived ability to savor the moment interacted to predict mean positive
emotional levels over the reporting period and, in turn, residualized changes in psychological
health.” (Kiken, et al, 2017)
Many of the triggers that cause emotional and mental anguish stem from either thoughts of the
past or the future. These uncontrollable aspects of life do not have to dictate our present state of
being. Humans, unfortunately, allow these thoughts to control the mind and, therefore, allow the
mind to control them. Outside influences such as TV, news, and daily water cooler conversations
only add to the 6000 thoughts manifested daily. (Raypole & Johnson, 2022) With so many
influences combined with our own perceptions of them, it is easy to see that the human mind can
become so fragile that the need for therapy or intervention of some type is a go-to option.
This is not to say that therapy or other forms of help are bad at all; in fact, they are needed to
address the multitude of challenges that humans face. Much of this need can be eradicated
through strong, mindful practices. Living in and observing the present lets people focus on the
here and now. Paying full attention to what you are doing when you are doing it is quintessential.
We see how distraction can become detrimental. The statistics on auto accidents while using cell
phones are only one of many horrifying statistics.
In addition, humans make the mistake of attempting to multitask and think they are
accomplishing their goals productively. Paul Atchley wrote an article for the Harvard Business
Review, saying, “Sadly, multitasking does not exist, at least not as we think about it. We instead
switch tasks. Our brain chooses which information to process. (Atchley, 2010) Because we are
inundated with so many things, multitasking seems logical, but the human brain is not wired that
way. Because some tasks do not get accomplished or done well, some people feel that they are
inadequate.
That feeling of inadequacy is another reason that therapeutic assistance can benefit some. Still,
taking a more focused approach to addressing circumstances is the best option. Placing 100
percent focus on the task at hand may not solve the many issues one is tasked with, but it can
ensure that the task being addressed is done to the best of their ability. Living in the “right now”
will help to negate the feeling of being overwhelmed because you are concentrating on the task
at hand over the plethora of things that must be handled. The reality is that although we try, the
tasks continue to build up, so attempting to tackle them all in hopes of getting them off your
plate is a fool’s errand. The attempt is a reason why many suffer from physical, emotional, and
psychological trauma.
These illusions manifest into the realities of stress. High stress can debilitate or even kill a
person. An American Psychological Association (APA) article discusses issues that can create a
hodgepodge of dilemmas. The writers say, “This can put you at increased risk for a variety of
physical and mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, digestive issues, headaches,
muscle tension and pain, heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke, sleep problems,
weight gain, and memory and concentration impairment.” (APA, 2022)
So why do people choose to focus on the areas they cannot control over the ones they have some
control over? Societal pressure is one reason; feelings of inadequacy over not completing tasks
are another, and the feelings of being judged for not making something happen add to the choice.
Taking a more mindful approach means that one must slow down and concentrate on what they
are doing, and since that runs counter to popular consensus, many would rather run the risk of
poor health or death over not meeting the demands of life. Therefore, there are so many
unhealthy and unhappy people in the world.
Getting to our center is what people should be doing; that means slowing down, being mindful,
and concentrating on accomplishing our goals to the fullest. It is not that it cannot be done. We
must shift our minds to concentrate more on ourselves, making being mindful easier and
reducing many mental, emotional, and physical health concerns. This is not to say that putting
effort into others is not to be done; it simply means that it should be addressed mindfully. Doing
so gives who or whatever we are working with the feeling that they are important instead of
being a chore on a checklist.
Bibliography
Ferguson, S., & Boyle, K., D.Ac., M.S., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac., CYT (2022, September 12). How to
Live In The Moment And Be More Present. Psychcentral.com.
Kiken, L. G., Lundberg, K. B., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2017). Being present and
enjoying it: Dispositional mindfulness and savoring the moment are distinct,
interactive predictors of positive emotions and psychological
health. Mindfulness, 8(5), 1280–1290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-017-0704-
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Raypole, C., & Johnson, J., PsyD. (2022, February 28). How Many Thoughts Do You Have Each
Day? And Other Things to Think About. Healthline.com.
Cuncic, A., MA, , & Goldman, R., PhD, FTOS (2023, March 24). How to Be More Present.
Verywell.com.
Atchley, P. (2010, December 21). You Can’t Multitask, So Stop Trying. How to Be More Present.
Hnr.org.
American Psychological Association (APA) (2022, October 31). How stress affects your health.
Apa.org.
Aurelius, M. (2018). Mediations (Marcus Aurelius). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.