You can also choose to live more in the present than you may be used to doing. Present moment thinking seems counter-intuitive, and thus, it also takes work. Once you get the hang of it, however, you will realize that not only were you powerless over controlling the trauma of the past, but that the future is largely uncertain, so living in the moment will allow you to live life to the fullest.
Employing mindfulness strategies to live more fully in the present is key. This means becoming more aware of your thoughts and feelings, connecting with these, and adjusting any negative thought patterns when they arise. It also means learning to reframe inherent toxic thought patterns to allow in more positivity.
Focusing on each of the five senses in the present moment can also help. A fun way to practice mindfulness is to try eating with all five senses. This exercise involves sitting with a snack or meal and taking the time to consider how the five senses – sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste – are affected by each bite. This long-practiced technique demonstrates how mindfulness can be incorporated into everyday situations regardless of how busy life gets. Use the following to take notes:
Meal/Snack:
How My Senses are Impacted…
Sight –
Smell –
Sound –
Touch –
Taste –
Here is another mindfulness exercise to help you live more fully in the present.
Where am I right now?
Why am I here?
What are five things in this room with me?
What can I smell?
What are my thoughts about where I’m at?
Living more in the present will help to release the trauma of the past. It is not intuitive to appreciate the present moment, however, so referencing these exercises can help retrain the mind. In time, the trauma escaped will seem more distant and your current state, more real. This will give you a newfound appreciation for where you’re at today.