Awakening Now: How Mindfulness and Meaning Can Light the Way

Rediscover Yourself Through Present Awareness and Meaningful Goals

How much of life do you remember?

When was the last time you felt like you were present in the current moment? We are physically here, but our minds are always busy, always somewhere else. I heard this quote and can’t stop thinking about it.

“You’re depressed because you’re living in the past. You’re anxious because you’re living in the future. You’re only at peace when you live in the present.” But it is easy to say but not easy to do.

Discovering the Power of Mindfulness

How can we actually live in the moment? For that, first, we need to understand why our lives are slipping away from our hands.

We often spend our time on autopilot, going through emotions without actively engaging with our surroundings. We let our minds wander, thinking about what happened yesterday or what we need to do tomorrow that we lose sight of today. We’re constantly surrounded by distractions, making it difficult to focus on just one thing at a time.

As a result, we’re very rarely fully present in our lives. This is exactly why we feel like our lives are slipping away from our hands.

One of the reasons we don’t live in the present is because we never shut up. We constantly talk to ourselves.

Embracing Uniqueness Amidst Social Media Pressure

As philosopher Alan Watts puts said, “If we’re talking all the time, we never hear what anyone else has to say. In the same way, if we’re talking to ourselves all the time, we’re never listening and never in a relationship with reality.”

So, how can you find peace in your busy mind? To live in the present moment, we need to practice mindfulness.

Being mindful is almost like a muscle. The more you train it, the better you become in it.

You know we are in an era full with distractions; this is a skill we all need to get.

I’m going to be honest with you, This is probably one of my weakest areas that I’m trying to improve with my ADHD brain. So, to live in the moment, we need to practice mindfulness.

What is mindfulness?

When we are mindful, we observe our thoughts and feelings from a distance without judging.

“When you become mindful, according to the author Jay Dixit, you’re able to be with your thoughts as they are, neither grasping at them nor pushing them away. Instead of letting your life go by without living it, you awaken to a richer experience. Mindful people are generally happier, more exuberant, and more secure. They have higher self-esteem, decreased ego involvement, and are likely to help less chronic pain and increased immune systems.”

My Personal Journey with Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness was one of the areas that I overlooked and didn’t care about until this year.

I was pushing myself harder and harder each day for a better future.

But I realized if I’m not living in the moment right now, I’ll do the same thing when the future comes.

I’ll always chase the better future without ever tasting the right now, without ever tasting the present moment.

I was trying to support my family financially, grow my business, make more money, get in shape, this and that, and all these stress piled up, and I started to actually lose my hair.

I lost a significant amount of weight without even trying. But then I decided to reflect on this. And even though it sounds stupid, I matured and accepted that I also need rest.

Everyone needs rest, no matter how strong, productive, and effective we are. I started practicing mindfulness here and there, and right now, I’m trying to do it every day.

An Arabic saying goes, “If you want to die, throw yourself in the ocean. You will find yourself fighting to survive. You don’t want to kill yourself; you want to kill something inside of you.”

It’s easy to get caught up in our own lives, chasing after personal success and happiness.

However, it’s equally important to focus on making others happy. By doing so, we can help bring purpose and meaning to our lives.

I remember when my family was financially well off. However, I was only trying to make money for myself.

After a short while, I started to feel unfulfilled even though I was making more than I needed.

I experienced burnout and felt unmotivated every day.

Embracing a Life of Meaning

Focusing only on our happiness can leave us feeling unhappy and empty. When my uncle scammed us and ended up in a huge debt, I decided to protect and provide for my family.

That’s when I found the meaning of my life. It was no longer a personal goal but a shared one. That’s when I really started to push harder and further without feeling burnt out or lacking motivation.

Making the World a Better Place

We need to understand that we’re part of a larger community, and our actions have an impact on the world around us.

I’m not saying to go and become a people pleaser.

Always please yourself first, but don’t forget to please others. Even small acts of kindness or generosity can have a ripple effect that extends far beyond what we can see.

When we choose to make the world a better place, even in small ways, we’re contributing to a larger movement of compassion and positivity while helping to create a better society for ourselves and future generations.

Let’s not underestimate the power of our actions, no matter how insignificant they seem.

By making others happy, we can bring a sense of purpose and meaning to our lives. We can help make the world better, one small act of kindness at a time.

To live in the present moment, we need to give up the urge to sit in. Take ownership of who you are.

We’re all unique, with different strengths and weaknesses. Don’t hide this uniqueness just to be like others.

We all agreed with that in today’s world of social media, it’s easy to compare ourselves to others.

We often change how we act or how we look like to get more likes or comments.

But we must remember, every choice we make should be based on what we believe in, not what others think.

Before you do something, ask yourself, “Do I really want to do this? Or am I doing this because I want others to like me?”

If you’re about to post a photo on Instagram, ask yourself “If you really want to share that moment or if you’re just trying to impress others.”

Just because others think something is cool doesn’t mean you have to do it if it’s not true to who you are.

For example, just because your friend is smoking next to you, don’t smoke together if you’re not a smoker.

If there is a party at your office and it’s not a must-go event, remember you have the choice. If you enjoy such events, then go, have fun. But if you’d rather have a quiet night in with your family or friends, it’s okay to say “No” to the party.

Being True to Yourself

Living in the moment is about being true to ourselves. It’s hard to understand what we truly value, but we have our whole life to figure that out.

I know it’s hard. I know it takes courage to stop trying to fit in and start being ourselves. But if you want to stop wasting our life, letting it slip away from our hands, we need to make sure that we live the way we want to.

Live a life that’s worth fighting for every single day.

Setting Meaningful Goals

Setting high goals for yourself isn’t about meeting societal expectations. It’s about recognizing your potential and striving to fulfill it.

Remember, you’re capable of achieving far more than you might think.

A four goals that hold personal meaning to you. They don’t have to be milestones that impress others or targets set by society.

As long as these goals are meaningful to you and present a challenge, they’re worth pursuing. Commit to working towards your goal every day.

The journey towards them is just as important, if not more, than the achievement itself. It’s this journey that fosters personal growth and instills a sense of fulfillment.

We thrive on the feeling of progress and improvement. It gives us purpose, sparks joy, and most importantly, it makes life worth living.

For instance, if you have been overweight for most of your life and you wish to start caring for your body, set a goal to exercise regularly and eat healthier.

The journey will be challenging. It will test your discipline and willpower, but that’s what makes it meaningful. Each step you take towards this goal, every moment of struggle is a testament to your strength and determination.

Perhaps your marriage is on the rocks and your goal might be to rebuild trust and intimacy with your partner. This could be one of the toughest things you will ever do because it will require patience, effort, understanding, and countless conversations.

Human relationships are hard, but the reward at the end, a loving and trusting relationship will be worth every bit of the effort.

Your goals can span various facets of life. They could be related to your physical health, mental wellbeing, career, relationships, or personal interests.

You decide what you want to work towards because it’s your life. It’s crucial to remember you’re the main character of your life, not a side character in someone else’s.

Your Unique Journey

Your journey is unique, your dreams are valid, and your life is a canvas waiting to be painted with your own colors.

I know it sounds so cheesy, but it’s true.

So design the life you wish to live. Don’t live for someone’s expectations.