The idea of ‘living in the present’ is one that’s become so widespread, usually heard through general advice as to how to improve your mental health, that it can feel almost useless. It’s vague and sometimes it can even seem like it’s unclear what it means. However, while you might not have personally found it useful up to this point, it is something that can have a profound impact on your perspective, potentially even helping you through more difficult periods in your life. Therefore, getting to grips with what it means and how you can go about living in the present might be something that’s well worth your time.
Breathing Exercises
Alongside the idea of living in the present, you might also hear about the concept of mindfulness. You might feel similarly about this – as well as meditation, which can have benefits on your mental health but can also be difficult to get into if you’re skeptical.
You might find it helpful, then, to strip this back to simple breathing exercises – something that is often at the core of both meditation and mindfulness. The idea is to become observant of your breathing, ultimately bringing your attention onto that forever present action and away from your internal world. It can be difficult at first, and it can feel as though you’re constantly slipping back away to your thoughts, but it’s important to realize that this is okay, it’s all part of the process. Over time, you might find that gently coming back to your breathing becomes more habitual and, as a result, grounding.
Taking It for Granted
The thought of focusing on the present might seem especially strange to you if you feel as though you’re unhappy with your situation. It might be that you feel lonely, or perhaps you’re faced with the prospect of moving into residential care or going through something difficult. However, you might find that once your attention is more firmly in the present moment, you begin to appreciate and value aspects of your life that you previously didn’t focus on – it might help you to enjoy hobbies again or get more out of simple socialization. This kind of revitalization can help you take a more active approach – in the case of moving into residential care, it can make you more positive about the kinds of options waiting for you, like how Morris care at Corbrook Park offers activities and social elements for you to look forward to.
What You Can Control
The difficulty with getting stuck in your head is that you begin to get dragged down by anxieties about what you can’t control. This can only add to feelings of despair and helplessness. Therefore, the grounding practice of focusing on the present moment can help to rectify this by drawing your attention back to your sphere – back to what you can control. Once this becomes your focus again, you might find that these anxieties gradually hold less of an impact on your mood and mental health. In short, relinquishing the idea of control can be difficult, but it might be more beneficial than you expect.
