A present mindset is a ridiculously incredible tool for finding happiness in the now, overcoming daily struggle, and unlocking a whole world of personal freedoms.
I am no expert in pandemics or having up to date information on today’s news, so I am not going to write about my opinion on how other people are reacting or what I think about the whole Coronavirus thing.
You are so over it, I know. I am too. 🙋🏼♀️
Instead, I am going to write a post that should live well beyond this historical hiccup.
👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Graduating High School or College
- A Breakup
- A new relationship
- Favorite coffee shop closing
- The lease is about to end on your apartment, and you don’t have a plan yet
- None of the classes you need are available
- Kiddo gets sick the day of your big job interview
- Raining on the day, you planned your big pool party
- Someone in your family gets terrible news
- You find out from the doctor that dairy is a complete no-go for you anymore
If none of these resonate with you, then come up with your own. We all have found and continue to find ourselves in situations of complete uncertainty.
When that time comes, it is up to you and no one else to help you stay present in the things you can control. 👏🏼
“If you are depressed, you are living in the Past. If you are anxious, living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the moment. – Lao Tzu
Here are three ways you can center your mind on the present:
Say your gratitude for the things of the present and the things to come to you in the future.
Rachel Hollis, in her book Girl, Stop Apologizing and Jen Sincero in her book, You Are a Badass, both spoke this into my heart and mind, and I will be forever *grateful* for it.
The reality is… before you ask for anything, you have to show complete appreciation for the things you have already been given.
✨You have to be thankful for the things that are to come.✨
Practicing gratitude can be a massive challenge if you aren’t willing and ready to let go of resentment, self-loathing, contentment, or change.
When you start to be grateful, you must be willing to forgive, love yourself, and make big leaps in the mind department.
I challenge you to ponder what level of gratitude you have been pouring out. I challenge you to be honest about how most days you go to bed and never thank your version of God, source energy, nature, or even yourself for all the things you have and will have.
Every day, twice a day for hecks sake, make a list of AT LEAST ten things.
I do mine in my head as I drive to and from work, and ANY TIME I feel the future becoming too daunting, too scary for me to pallet anymore.
Some things I add to my list:
- I am grateful for any money that I have. I am thankful for the freedom and opportunities it provides me.
- I am grateful for my mom and dad for being my most significant support through all my inspiring and big ideas
- I am thankful for my friends for being the most loving, thoughtful, open, and intelligent group of people I have ever known. I am truly blessed for their place in my life
- I am grateful for writing. I am thankful to have a platform that allows me to create and grow. A free and undefined space.
- I am grateful for my book. The one that hasn’t made it to the hands of others yet, but the one that exists in my head and mostly in writing.
- I am grateful for the roommates I do not yet have. I am thankful for our friendship and ability to find joy in being in such close proximity.
These are a few of my millions. These are the things that keep my mind present.
The more often you speak thankfulness, the more you become thankful for.
Set goals that encourage your present self to get excited about the future
You have no idea what tomorrow really holds. You have no idea what three months from now are going to look like.
In two years you could be a completely different person. In seven years, you may not even recognize the person you have become.
That is precisely what you should want.
You should set goals that motivate you to get excited about ALL OF THE LIMITLESS POTENTIAL that tomorrow, two years from now, and seven years hold for you.
Set big, passionate, real, and inspiring goals for yourself.
If I ever ask someone what their big goal is for the next five years is, and they tell me they don’t have one, I am confident that five years from now, they will be almost precisely who they were when asked them that question.
If you want things to change and you want to become more and more the most high-frequency version of yourself, you MUST be willing and ready to speak life into all those goals you hide from the world.
You must not keep them pent up in your brain and in unopened journals.
For those of you who are struggling with this because you don’t think you have inspiring, impactful, and living changing goals, see the gratitude section once again and come back to this step once you become grateful.
If you can’t see a big, transformational, vibrant future for yourself, then it is probably because you don’t see one for your present mind either.
Go get grateful and then come back and set some goals.
Take care of your mind and body now and not later. Be present.
There is always an excuse for why the present isn’t the right time.
Work is crazy. My kids need me. My friends won’t understand. I don’t have the money. I don’t have space. I can’t influence anyone. I am addicted. The world is against me.
This list could be written into eternity.
The list of things that are holding you back from taking care of you in such a way that allows you to take care of others is ridiculously long, and it is a list of self-limiting beliefs that are manifesting out of fear, past pain, and non-truths.
Once you have given gratitude, really meditating in it, written down and spoken to life your big goals, your next step is to take care of the things that you can right now in the present.
You can, right now, decide that your mind matters. Your body matters. Your space matters.
This is a present action. Not a future action.
Meditate on the idea that although you have no idea what three months look like for you schedule-wise, friend-wise, relationship-wise, or other, that you have control over this moment.
I will sum all of this by repeating the thing I said at the beginning regarding uncertainty,
“When that time comes, it is up to you and no one else to stay present in the things you can control.”
Remember to be thankful, goal-oriented, and aware of self.
Life is not a battle. Life is a dance.
