Taming the mind can be the work of a lifetime. It streams a looping inner monologue that often grows so loud it blocks out the beauty of what’s happening right now. Yet truth exists in the present moment. The sensation of an object, the temperature of a room, the rhythm of your breath. When you hone in on what’s happening right now, the monologue falls silent. Here are five Live in the Moment Quotes to help anchor you to the present.

The Importance Of Living In The Moment

Thoughts don’t really realize they’re just… thoughts. Sometimes they race, sometimes they judge, and sometimes they drift back to the hardships of the past or the worries of the future. There’s one thing thoughts are not: Truth. The present is Truth. When you learn to silence your thoughts and focus on the present, your soul finally has the space to speak its truth.

Many writers, yogis and spiritual gurus have offered enlightening insight on this vital concept. We picked out a few of our favorite live in the moment quotes to carry with you.

“Mindful and creative, a child who has neither a past, nor examples to follow, nor value judgments, simply lives, speaks and plays in freedom.”- Arnaud Desjardins

We all recall the carefree days of childhood—when we lived for each vivid moment, playing with friends, frolicking outdoors, delighting in the little things and taking zero time to dwell in the past or fixate on the future. Childhood is a state of pure mindfulness and creativity. To strive to keep that sense of presence is to truly live in the moment.

“You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”- Jon Kabat-Zinn

The ocean has a mind of its own, and those who dare to play in it must do so with great respect and wonder. Much like the tides, life has its churns and recessions, but sometimes the best we can do is learn how to ride them out. While we’re on the subject, SUP Yoga is a great way to do just that!

“This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.”- Alan Watts

All too often we think a certain job, coworker, commute or schedule are what’s keeping us from happiness or success. If we get that promotion or win over that manager, we’ll have finally “arrived.”

What if we simply let our soul speak our truest passion? Then each moment we spend working would be a moment of joy. Calming the mind makes way for the soul, which is a much more powerful force than the ego.

“We do so much, we run so quickly, the situation is difficult, and many people say, ‘Don't just sit there, do something.’ But doing more things may make the situation worse. So you should say, ‘Don't just do something, sit there.’ Sit there, stop, be yourself first, and begin from there.”- Thich Nhat Hanh

Stop. Take a breath. Reset. From this space, the real answers will bubble up to the surface. Use them to solve that tricky situation. Before you react, reflect. Living in the present moment allows you to do so.

“Now is the future that you promised yourself last year, last month, last week. Now is the only moment you’ll ever really have. Mindfulness is about waking up to this.”- Mark Williams

There will always be another reason. A reason to skip that vacation, cancel that hike, forego that healthy lunch or ignore the quiet you so desperately need. These reasons will stack up until you look up and realize you’re missing the now. Set aside your reasons and focus on what’s around you. Take the vacation, embark on the hike, spend time making foods that fuel you and sit down to be still with yourself. Only good things will come.

Make Presence Your Mantra

We hope these Live In The Moment quotes help you embrace a state of mindfulness. Whether it’s “Sat Nam” (true identity) or “Living in the Moment,” make appreciation for the here and now your everyday mantra.

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