Forget everything…
… Except what you’re doing and where you are at this moment in time.
Moment-to-moment living takes the idea of being present and living in the now to another level. It’s being hyper aware of your current surroundings and super focused on what you’re doing in the moment.
Imagine you’re making a salad, if you’re practicing moment-to-moment living you would pay extremely close attention to tearing the lettuce, washing and cutting the tomatoes, how you’re putting them in the salad bowl… Being this hyper focused pulls you immediately into the present moment so much so that nothing else can enter your brain and I mean nothing!
Why living moment-to-moment matters.
Our thought process and our behaviors are derived from our given circumstances – our past and present situation. When we are moment-to-moment, we have the chance to prepare for the next step, learn something, and rehearse…
Practicing moment-to-moment is like doing homework. Your attention is on what’s working and what’s not working so you can make adjustments along that way that will serve you better.
And as you do this inner work, a beautiful thing occurs –
You get to know yourself.
The key to moment-to-moment living –
The key to moment-to-moment living is to avoid anticipating what’s coming next.
Back to the salad, while dicing the carrots, you would want to avoid thinking about the cucumber that you’re going to put in next, or the table that needs to be set. It’s human nature to anticipate what’s next or what we want to come next.
Think about a relationship you might be in, it’s totally normal homo sapien behavior to wonder, and “Will I marry this man?” “Is she the one?” And then off you go in your mind selecting the house you’ll purchase together and naming the children.
This is NOT living moment to moment.
And, it is not good for you.
Every moment has its own meaning
And you will miss it if you are not super present.
The key to getting the most out of moment-to-moment is being prepared.
Example: You study for a test and because you are prepared, you ace it.
Try this exercise from legendary acting teacher, Uta Hagen
The “Lost Object Exercise,” is a great acting exercise that can help you learn that “your hunt for the missing object is based on your previous as well as present circumstances,” Uta Hagen.
Here’s my Reader’s Digest version:
- Pay attention for a few days what happens when you lose something small, it could be your keys, your glasses, your driver’s license. Watch your reaction and pay close attention to what you do to look for the missing object.
- Recreate misplacing a small object you lose frequently. Hide it somewhere and then get into the feeling place of YOU having really lost it. Go through the motions of looking for the object. If you “pretend” as you look for it, you will lose the essence of this exercise. Once you find the object take in the glorious feeling that accompanies finding something that is lost.
The key with this exercise is to avoid anticipating what is coming next – do your best to stay highly aware of how you are feeling and what you are doing each moment.
- If after trying it, this exercise feels false to you, it would be okay to have someone hide a small object you need (they should tell you what it is) and then pay close attention to your behavior, your breathing, etc. as you search for it. Remember to enjoy the moment of relief that comes form finding it.
How do you live moment-to-moment?
You work at it.
Practice elevating the awareness of your connection to whatever is going on around you.
The benefits.
It allows you to have access to your inner truth and then you will make better choices.
You develop an ability to respond honestly in a way that serves you.
Check out this week’s Acting As If TV episode for more on Moment–to-Moment Living. Let me know what you think and how it’s going for you!
Leave a comment!
All the best to you always,
Linda
The Act AS IF Technique 