Imagine that it’s finally Friday night, the beginning of a weekend of freedom, which also happens to include your birthday. Your family, friends and spouse all have celebratory plans for you.
You have a rewarding career and a network of beautiful people who want to rejoice in your life. As you walk out to your car to officially kickoff the fun, a giddy thrill washes over you.
But as you click the seatbelt into place, rather than sitting in awe of how lucky you are, a list of concerns begin worming their way into your consciousness: “I need gas, but the conveniently located gas station charges more than others … I hope it’s not a surprise party … Maybe I should get the beverages I like before going home … I haven’t been to the gym all week … Did I pay the electric bill?”
And so it goes.
I think we’ve all had this experience, which often has us psychically living 30 minutes into the future – no matter how great the present circumstances might be.
Are we doomed to this torrent of noise which distracts us from enjoying our life?
We don’t have to be. Following are some ideas to help you live more joyfully in the present.
Be present
- Don’t live your life 30 minutes ahead of the present. If you won’t live your life now, in the present, then who will?
- Laugh more! It’s better than crying before you’re hurt. Don’t put your umbrella up until it rains. Worry restricts your ability to think and act effectively, and it forces you to mortgage fear and anxiety about something that may never occur. Laughter is the opposite.
When you laugh, you’re living almost completely in the moment. - No one can ruin your day without your permission. As much as we cannot control in life – our genes, our past and what has led up to today – there is much control we can have. For example, we can understand that life picks on everyone, so when the going gets tough, we don’t have to take it personally. When we do take misfortune personally, we tend to obsess, giving a legacy to something that may make you a day poorer in life.
- Cure your “destination disease.” Live more for today, less for tomorrow, and never about yesterday. How? You might have to repeatedly remind yourself that yesterday is gone forever, yet we perpetually have to deal with now, so why not live it? And what if tomorrow never occurs? There is a difference between working toward the future, which is inherently enjoyable in light of hope, and living in an unrealistic future that remains perpetually elusive. If tomorrow never comes, would you be satisfied with the way today ended?
It is not how you start in life and it is not how you finish. The true joy of life is in the trip, so make sure that you enjoy the ride!
Written by Steve Gilliland, special to the Express. Steve Gilliland is a member of the National Speaker Association’s Speaker Hall of Fame, and he is one of the most in-demand and top-rated speakers in the world for his storytelling, comedy and advice. He is the author of “Enjoy The Ride,” “Making a Difference,” and “Hide Your Goat.” His new book “Detour, Developing the Mindset to Navigate Life’s Turns,” will be released in early May 2015. For more information, visit his website at stevegilliland.com.
