Why Do We Resist Living In The Present?

The term, carpe diem, comes from the great Roman poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus. It means something like “live in the now” in the sense of taking advantage of it. The most reliable translation of the full sentence in the original language would be “Seize the day, do not trust tomorrow”. We still continue to resist living in the now.

Honestly, it’s easier to let the day go and wait until tomorrow rather than take advantage of the actual moment. Why do people tend to do this?

Some people can not live in the now – they can not understand the idea of ​​thinking only now. They are too focused on the past to live in the present. They lose every single battle they fight against their own thoughts.

The worst thing is that we do not know whether “civilization” removed this capacity from us. We sit back here and wonder if the purpose of it all is to stop feeling and start thinking. But why do we resist living in the present? Does this have to do with human development?

People resist living in the present because of prejudice

Eckhart Tolle revealed, at a masterful conference in Barcelona, ​​this misfortune for man: to be imprisoned in mental, material and emotional ways.

He mentioned that it was important to stop considering them as something temporary and start identifying with them. Being present is not all that it is about; you must also be mentally satisfied.

This has nothing to do with “self-preoccupation” or paralysis. It is actually the opposite. No one doubts that you should “do things” in this life.

The important thing here is to be present with what you are feeling while doing these things. Although it is easy to condemn, refrain from labeling your emotions. Do not judge yourself. This, right here, is the most mature form of engagement.

Connection with the present, the absence of ego and guilt

Stopping being mentally imprisoned sometimes resembles the pleasant contact with a baby, nature, or an animal. It’s exciting to see how a person decides to spend time with someone who doesn’t judge or brag about them.

Some people feel empowered while others feel weak. Some people relax and connect with the present when they do not feel judged.

On the other hand, some feel that they need to continue to prove something. In the latter case, they not only refrain from living in the moment, there is also an excess of narcissism and ego that can lead to stronger discomfort.

The first type of people may need to find a better company and get rid of the problematic ones. Maybe they need to learn to keep condemnation aside when they are alone. They need to stop feeling guilty about what they have or have not done. The crucial thing is to remember that they are the main character in all situations.

We connect with the present moment by accepting our mental states without being morally or intellectually subjected to them. Moreover, it is done by seeing the world from the outside and by distinguishing intellect from true wisdom.

Not living in the present because of seclusion and Western culture

In the West, it is difficult to understand secession. These people refuse to let go and just decide to hold on.

When people in the West have a family, friends and a boyfriend, they think it will last forever. The truth is that they suffer no matter what happens and this disorder comes from inability to detach. For some reason, it is very difficult for them to feel free and connected to the actual dimension.

Living in the now will definitely be harder when the individual thinks that everything depends on them, or worse yet, they may think they have to trust someone / something else to be happy.

We all know that death is inevitable – it is natural life. Even if people know this, it can take months or even years to get over the death of a loved one. It is not death itself that is sad and painful, but refusing to accept it.

Acceptance is the hardest part when it comes to grief. Nevertheless, it is important to embrace it as a normal process in life.

Learn to live in the now for the sake of your mental health

Moreover, Westerners are currently living in an era of consumerism and productivity. That said, this longing for living in the moment of the moment is almost a luxury. Who nowadays has time to slow down on the way to work to enjoy the morning breeze or the smell of wet grass?

In today’s world, everyone is constantly on the move. No matter how uncomfortable this may be, it has become a daily routine for many.

Our daily lives are extremely hectic, causing us to daydream about the weekend, our next vacation or even retirement. We’re thinking about what to make for dinner while we’re on our way to work. Sundays are full of Monday-related anxiety. The present moment seems so dull and empty that we have no choice but to run away.

Take your values ​​into account

We all know how much today’s society values ​​performance. It’s about how you do at work, how much money you can make, and how many hours a day you work. This apparently makes it much harder to live in the now. Some may view this philosophy as lazy and careless.

It is the past and the future that make sense of the present. It’s not a still image, but part of a movie. You need to know where we are coming from in order to build your future. Think about it from an environmental perspective: The way you treat the environment right now will affect its future.

To combat fatigue, it is important to stop for a moment and think about what life is all about. More often than not, you may end up not being able to find a meaning to it. And that’s exactly the point: giving life meaning is important in order to be able to live what you want. It is important that you know what motivates your actions and choices.

Use the time it takes

This does not mean you have to set spectacular goals. To make sense of life is to find what matters most to you, and then work and act on that priority. It can be family, love or your children, among other things. Only with a clear purpose can you really take the time to work hard to finally achieve it.

When you take a moment to understand and enjoy the moment, the memories you get will be incredibly valuable to you. They will be attached to all your senses. Some shamans call them “warm memories”. Unlike “cold memories” forged by your intellect, these memories are unforgettable and become a source of comfort.

On the other hand, if you do not take the time to enjoy the small moments of happiness in your life because you are too busy focusing on performance, you will get the impression that your life is lacking in content. In fact, the so-called “midlife crisis” is often the result of this observation.

“Seize the day! Rejoice while you live; Enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have. It’s later than you think. ”

-Horace-

Why do people sometimes give up living in the now?

Feeling alive and well in the present can be a source of joy. However, it will not be if you do not stop for a moment to appreciate it. Author Sarah Ban Breathnach’s advice is to keep a diary in which you write down five things you feel grateful for each day. By doing this you will realize that you are much richer than you think.

For a long time we have seen phrases like “Your present depends on your past” and “It is up to you to have a good future”. All of these phrases relate the value of the present moment to uselessness, invisibility or even inactivity.

Remember, we are all different, which means some people are more vulnerable than others. That said, these kinds of messages can trigger anxiety or panic attacks in people who are fraught with insecurity.

The only way to heal is to face everything that happens in your life. By living in the now, you are giving yourself the chance to find out how you really feel about certain events and situations.

As a result, you may realize that some situations or problems are not as bad as you once thought they were. On many occasions, the bad things happen only in your mind. Do not be afraid to let go of your prejudices and your catastrophic mindset and start seeing the world with an open mind.