Why the focus on the present moment?

In mindfulness, we often talk about being in the present moment. But why? What’s so good about the present moment?

A lot of our stress, anxiety and worry can come from our minds wandering to the past or stepping into the future. And this causes worry because we don’t have any control over the past. We can’t go back in time and change things. And the same for the future – we can’t travel into the future and make things the way we want them! So being in the present moment helps us to be calmer and reduces anxiety. This moment is the only one we have any control over.

But what if the present moment is pretty rubbish?! If we are having a difficult time or are in a circumstance that is stressful or worrying? Well even then, when we are present, we tend to be happier. A study by Killingsworth and Gilbert in 2010 showed that when people’s minds were wandering (i.e. not present) they experienced less feelings of happiness. So even if they are in a situation where we would normally say it causes us unhappiness, mind wandering only adds to that unhappiness.

So how can we come into the present moment?

Using physical anchors like the breath and the body are great for this. Because when we breathe, we can only breathe in the here and now. We can’t breathe in the past or the future.

It’s the same for our body. Our body is something physical that is here now. So, when we focus on our body we can only really be in the present moment.

You may wonder why at the start of a mindfulness practice the teacher will often ask you to bring your attention to your breath or your body. This is why. Because they are two things that we have that helps us to be present. We don’t need special equipment, we don’t need high tech technology. We can all breathe and can connect to our bodies.

This is something that I love about mindfulness. How accessible it is. It’s something we can do so easily.

So if you ever want to come into the present moment here are some really simple things you can do

• Take a deep inhale through the nose and a long exhale through the mouth;

• Notice the movement in the body that the breath creates, like the rise and lower of the chest.

• Notice where your feet are resting and the solidity of the surface beneath them.

• Notice what textures you can feel with your hands.

All of these are really simple ways to come into the present moment and you’ll get the benefits of doing so.