Choosing to Live in the Present Moment (Stewarding Your Season #4)

Before having Wesley and even in the early days of motherhood, I wandered aimlessly through life. I had goals and aspirations, but life was always about getting somewhere instead of living in the right now. Part of me always wondered if there was something better out there. 

But it’s been within this season with my little boy that I’ve discovered that the present moment is all we have. I’ve finally understood the passing of precious time, as he changes so quickly before my eyes. I don’t want to miss it.

When I see his unfiltered joy, I want to capture it, and I want to feel it too. What brings me the most joy in life these days is living my days slowly, choosing to embrace all that they entail. From planting seeds to tilling soil, existing in the ordinary, this is my mindset and choice: The present moment deserves to be lived fully. I will steward it well.

Choosing to Live in the Present Moment

There is a natural progression from understanding where you are, accepting it, and changing your perspective, and then choosing to live more presently. We can do the first three well and live a fuller life, but if we don’t make the intentional choice to live in the present moment we are unable to steward our current season as well as we could.

These days, while I’m aware of the tension that exists within my heart, I’m choosing to live more presently. If I don’t make this active choice every single day, I know that I’m prone to wander, to worry, and to spiral. I have to make a choice to turn my heart toward the things of this moment rather than the regrets of the past or the concerns of tomorrow.

The here and now is all we really have. We can remember the past and prepare and hope for the future, but even those actions take place in the present moment. We have to steward these moments given to us well, and the last step in doing so is choosing to live more presently.

Here are some ways to help you as you choose to live more presently:

Find routines that work for this season.

I fully believe that the habits and routines that we engage in shape how we interact with the present moment. We have to find routines that work for us in this season instead of holding onto old ones. 

For example, in this season I’m finding myself doing my Bible study and writing during Wesley’s naptime in the afternoon rather than in the mornings like I used to. I’m practicing different spiritual disciplines in this season based on what I’m sensing I need to grow in the most. I’m also drinking a lot more coffee! Find what routines work best for you in this season and make those a part of your everyday life.

Thank God for what you have right now.

I know I suggested this as a way to help you accept where you are when it isn’t what you want, but I think it can be helpful as we choose to live presently as well. When we show gratitude to God for what we have, it ignites a spark in us. It helps us to engage these days more fully because we are appreciative of what we already have. So what are those things in your life, big or small, that you are thankful for?

Plan only for this season.

When we find ourselves planning for the fall or next spring, we lose ourselves in the future. In order to live more presently, we must only make plans for this season. I do this by taking things one week at a time. If I know I have something important coming up, I remember it, but I don’t plan for it until it’s almost here. This practice has helped me to stay present and make the most of today instead of always looking forward to the next big thing.

Continually choose to live in this moment, even when it’s painful and hard.

I know how hard living in the present moment can be. Sometimes it feels heavy with grief or tension. But even our deepest pain demands to be felt and processed. We have to wake up each morning and make the intentional choice to live more presently. It has to be a continuous practice we engage in, even when it’s really hard. But faith takes endurance and perseverance. We can only grow when we allow ourselves to face hard things.

Steward It Well

Learning to steward your season well is a practice that we must all learn so we can live more fully. By understanding where we are, accepting it, changing our perspective, and choosing to live in the present moment, we can live fully within this season given to us.

My intention with this series was to better equip you to live a life that is aware of God’s presence in the here and now, doing good with the perfect gifts he’s given. I hope that it has helped you as you desire to grow.

Remember: this moment is all we have. Now go, and live it well.