Learning to Live in the Moment: A Practice of Letting Go

Recently, I started listening to a meditation and mantra recording each morning to set the tone for my day. One mantra, in particular, stood out to me:

• You cannot go to the past to change it.

• You cannot go to the future to force it.

• You need to live in the present.

  
  

At first glance, this seems so obvious, almost simplistic. Yet, putting it into practice feels anything but easy. I know these statements are true, but I catch myself constantly revisiting the past or worrying about the future. It’s a cycle that accomplishes nothing, yet it consumes so much of my mental energy.

I understand there’s a balance to strike. Of course, we need to plan for the future—saving for retirement, taking care of our health, and so on. But worrying about every potential “what if” doesn’t contribute to that planning; it just creates stress. I find myself ruminating over my children’s future, my own health, my parents’ health, and even regrets about things I did—or didn’t—do. When my mind is caught up in these thoughts, I’m not truly present in the moment.

Living in the present is deceptively hard, especially when you have a busy, “monkey mind.” This constant mental chatter has served me well in some ways, helping me achieve a life I’m grateful for. At this stage, I have little to complain about—life is good. Yet, I still struggle to enjoy the fruits of my labor because my mind drifts to worries or regrets. It feels like I’m chasing a moving happiness goalpost. Every time I reach one milestone, I immediately shift my focus to the next.

I’ve decided to try a new experiment, one I’ve heard about but never truly committed to: living in the moment. Living in the present is a practice, not a destination. I may not get it right every day, but I’m ready to give it a real try. After all, life is happening now, and I want to be here for it.

Advice to My Younger Self:

• Worry less about the future.

• View the past as a teacher, not a source of regret.

• Remember, you can’t control everything, only how you respond to a situation.

• When problems arise, deal with them—but don’t waste energy imagining problems that may never happen.