Personal Development For Dads Challenge #4 - Live In The Moment

SOMETHING I have noticed as being a major hurdle for many people to overcome is the ability to stop dwelling on the problems of their past or looking to the future for their happiness. Your happiness can only be found in one place, within you, and at one time, at the intersection of just happened and about to happen.

I've been guilty of dwelling on the past and the future at different times of my life. Much of my life I spent being a "perfectionist" and wondering how I could have done things in my life better. The simple answer to that question is nothing, but for years I went over certain things over and over to the point I stopped enjoying the things that were currently in my life.

When I saw the error of my ways, I began to be a much more creative and loving individual, but as I surrounded my life with new projects and ambitions, it became hard not to dwell on the good times the future could bring if I could just follow through on my goals. Sadly, this wasn't the happiness I was after either.

It was not until I fully had my children back in my life that balance began to take shape in my life. My goals had purpose and relation, not to bring happiness into my life because I had already achieved it, but to just be the most complete person that I could be and see where it took me. No longer was the past or the promises of the future what occupied my thoughts.

Being able to "dwell" on the here and now is what I strive to make my life about now. Below are some great ideas for you to use to achieve the same mind state and start enjoying life from this moment forward.

1. Be thankful- Showing gratitude for the little things in your life is a good first step towards living life in the moment. Be thankful that you woke up this morning, that your children are healthy and that you have the potential to improve areas of your life you are unhappy with. Being thankful will also help you raise thankful children.

2. Forgive your past- Humans love to dwell on their pasts as if they had any power of changing it. We don't, so get over it. Chances are the things you dwell on weren't even your fault, but even if they were, you need to forgive yourself and move on. You aren't your past, no matter how often people try to define you as if you are.

3. Tie up loose ends- One thing that holds us back from moving forward is allowing loose ends that keep us looking backwards. Tie up those loose ends and move on with confidence knowing you don't have to go back to those places again.

4. Believe you have enough now- There's nothing wrong with planning for the future and building a better life for your family. The problem lies in not knowing when enough is enough and that you have all the things you need right now to be happy.

5. Check yourself- You need to learn to be aware of your own thoughts. Once you are aware of your thoughts, you become free to change them at will. When you find yourself dwelling, stop and tell yourself that you don't dwell anymore, and find something in your presence to enjoy for a moment.

6. Stop procrastinating- Like loose ends that tie you to your past, procrastination ties you to your future. When you don't get the things you know you need to get done finished, they nag on your conscience and keep you from enjoying your present. Shorten your to-do lists so they are manageable or stop procrastinating and complete your daily tasks. Only then will you feel free to enjoy your time.

7. Live life to the fullest- Granted, living each day like it's your last is a difficult mind frame to have and neglects any planning for the future. But by doing the things every day that you enjoy most and knowing that tomorrow doesn't matter until tomorrow, you will be living life to its fullest.

8. Evaluate your priorities- When you reevaluate your priorities and understand what is actually most important to you and your happiness, it gets a whole lot easier to find the time to spend on those things. Set your priorities and forget the other stuff.

9. Don't take life too seriously- In life, there is death, taxes, war, famine and hatred. But there doesn't have to be in your life. Enjoy your life, do good deeds even when you don't have to and know that for every good in life, there may be a bad, but it doesn't have to affect you negatively.

10. Let go- So many things in life are out of your control. Stop trying to make it otherwise. Some things in life you just need to let go of, including how people behave at home or work. The only thing you have control over is how you react to the things that happen in your life. Master that and Enjoy your life.

It will take some time, but by practicing the ideas outlined in this article, you can learn to let go of the past, be optimistic of the future without dwelling on it, and enjoy the little moments of your life. Once you have made these ideas a part of who you are, you'll see that every moment is a little moment of your life that should be enjoyed.

DAD TALK

* Do you take the time to appreciate every single day of your life?
* Do you spend more time dwelling on the future, the past or in the moment?
* What things can you do in your life to start appreciating the now more than the past or future?

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