Acting in the Present

Only in the present can we live our lives

All of the mindfulness posts in this section have one overarching goal: connecting you with the present moment. When you notice sounds, you are noticing the present. So too when you notice your breath.

And when you nonjudgmentally observe your thoughts, you are viewing them in real time, as they are happening, rather than becoming entangled in ruminations about the past, present, or future.

But if you do make contact with the present, what then?

ACT, as the name implies, has a suggestion.

Any moment of contact with the present is an opportunity to do something.

That “something” might be taking a moment to enjoy the warmth of a sunbeam, or accepting you don’t have control over an unpleasant feeling or situation, or working a little on a project you care about.

Or anything else you find meaningful.

In fact, whenever you notice you’re not in the present, you can use that as a cue to act in the present—enjoy it, accept it, or take meaningful action to change it. It’s like a kind of superpower, really.

When you are fully in the present, you are also fully empowered. Only in the present can we take valued action and build meaning. Only in the present can we live our lives. Make good use of it.