Stop being so distracted and enjoy the moment

Stop being so distracted and enjoy the momentStop being so distracted and enjoy the momentTheres this idea in Eastern and Western philosophy that we must learn how to enjoy the present moment without getting distracted by the past or future.Ever since the invention of words, the human race has been lost in thought. We are constantly thinking, stressing, worrying, and being preoccupied with a force that seems outside of ur control.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThats why many of us search for refuge in philosophies that promise us inner calm. Stoicism, Mindfulness, Zen- fruchtwein of us use the teachings to escape our thoughts.We keep on treating the symptoms by using meditation apps, reading comfortable books and articles,getting rid of our devices, and trying the next solution that promises peace from ourselves.Im guilty of this too. Im always looking for new knowledge and inf ormation. At some point, I learned that more information is not the answer.But what CAUSES this state of mind we are in? The answer is our excessive desire. Theres an Epicurean saying that the stoic philosopher Seneca talksabout in one of his lettersThe life of a foolish man is fearful and unpleasant it is swept totally away into the future.Like most ancient philosophers, Epicurus aspired to live a happy life. He aimed for peace, fearlessness, and a life thats absent of pain. He proposed a self-sufficient life.I dont agree with all his views, but I like his perspective on pleasure. Pleasure is not only eating, drinking, and being merry- no, true pleasure is to live care-free.But we live our lives far from it. We are always distracted by something. Thats why its difficult to enjoy the moment.Removing Excessive Desire From ur LivesHere are a few things many of us want to obtainTo live foreverTo have a lot of moneyTo be respectedTo have powerTo stay healthyTo have certain people in our livesEpicureanism considers these desires as an illness of the soul. A soul thats pure doesnt want to obtain anything. It is complete. It doesnt need anything.Its the same concept thatBuddhismand Mindfulness propose. And its a viewpoint we can all benefit from. But how do you practice all this stuff without relying too much on external sources to be happy?Turns out theres a very simple way that we can be more present. We can stop thinking about the past and the future so we can enjoy the present.Rely On Your Own SensesLets do a little thought exercise. When you walk on the street, take a shower, have a conversation, or sit on a chair, what do you do? Think about it. What happens inside your head when youre doing something?Almost all of us perform the activity as a secondary thing. Our primary objective is to think. You can easily detect that by looking at how much you rely on your senses on an average day.Do you FEEL the water on your skin in the shower? Do you HEAR the words someo ne is saying to you? Do you landsee the buildings you walk by? Do you SMELL the coffee? Do you TASTE the omelet?We all know we have five basic senses. And yet, were not aware of them. Were only aware of our thoughts. Your thoughts are stealing away your senses. Ever thought about that?To be more at peace. To enjoy the present. To be less distracted. To be happyAll you need to do is rely more on your senses.Feel, hear, see, smell, and taste life, my friend. Its pretty good. But you already knew that.What about my goals?At first sight, having goals does not match with living in the present. After all, goals are by definition future-oriented. When you set a goal, youre aiming at something in the future. Is that bad?Like everything in life,nothing is good or bad by itself.We tend to turn our goals into a bad thing by thinking too much about them.I dont think theres anything wrong with having the intention to make your life better. And if you think about it, all these philosophers, spiri tual teachers, and sages all had their goals.They wrote books, started schools, movements, and communities. So when some person tells you goals are bad, walk away.Start NowSometimes we need a reminder to be more present.To enjoy our lives and to make the best of it.Why not increase your awareness right now? Do you feel the device thats in your hand? Do you see the beauty of the place youre currently in? What do you smell? What do you hear?Rely on that. And less on your thoughts. Youll find that life will be peaceful. And youll find that you dont need anything to be happy.Life is good the way it is. You dont need to read another book. You dont need to meditate. You dont NEED anything.Its funny how this awareness removes the worry and stress out of our lives. Because right now, at this moment, theres nothing to worry about. Relying on your senses does that for you.EnjoyThis article originally appeared on Darius Foroux.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will ma ke you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people