The Most Challenging Thing You Will Do Today is Try to Live Presently

When you gaze at your reflection in the mirror, who do you perceive? What emotions stir within you? Do you radiate with brightness, steeped in love and joy? Or do you sense depletion, a sense of being unearthed, and perhaps even a hint of disarray?

We often fall into regular patterns in life because we are creatures wired for routines. We gravitate towards these routines because they offer simplicity. They allow us to slip into autopilot mode, sparing us the need for extensive thought—we simply act.

The path of life often becomes more challenging before it mellows into ease. Yet, the crux lies in your choice of embracing discipline. This choice is unceasing, at times exhausting, frequently demanding, and occasionally bordering on the impossible. However, the rewards it yields are invaluable.

Miserable are those who carry along detrimental habits: the late-day caffeine-induced insomnia, excessive exposure to blue light, waking up to a television blaring the news, instantly drowning in the social media stream upon waking, and keeping the phone at arm's length for hypothetical emergencies.

Miserable are those who drain their body's vitality, soul, and life force even before tending to their morning routine. They lack the intake of sunshine, water, and fresh air, and their breakfast is often nutritionally lacking or non-existent. They trudge through the day without energy or verve, caught in a lackadaisical stupor.

Miserable are those who fixate on the world's malevolence, their dispassion for life driving them to a state of despondency, isolation, and a yearning for better circumstances. They find themselves trapped in an unending cycle of survival-driven desperation.

Blissful are those who keep a notepad and pen on their bedside table to unload the day's series of experiences—both elevating and enlightening, as well as disorienting and unraveling. They dedicate time to gaze at the sky, inhale deeply, and listen to the melodies of birds and bees instead of plugging in AirPods. They savor the sensation of sand underfoot and fully inhabit each fleeting moment, not just in the physical realm, but also in the emotional one.

Whether it's the touch of a breeze on your skin, the burst of flavor from a blueberry, the act of running fingers through your hair, or the rhythmic tapping of keys on a keyboard—be present. Immerse yourself in every facet of the human experience without the encumbrance of extraneous thoughts. Cultivate a clear mind capable of singular focus, attune yourself to your body, reconnect with a tranquil spirit, accomplish tasks, and extract the maximum value from your time.

Being fully present proves no simple feat. Practicing mindfulness demands even more. Yet, our habits remain under our jurisdiction. We wield the power to choose what uplifts and what diminishes us. We can pledge ourselves to a goal, exhibit unwavering commitment, and acknowledge when to pause, replenish our energies, and recommence. This dominion rests solely with us—neither an external force nor an entity dictates it. You might hold a different perspective, and that's perfectly acceptable; you possess that prerogative.