“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.” Maya Angelou
“…as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:10-20
Merry Christmas (yes, it is still Christmas!) and Happy New Year!!
As we move into 2022, I invite you to join me in making the resolution to focus on living in the present moment. I was reflecting recently on how much I love vacations because we really tend to be “in the moment” when away from home. Time is spent focusing on what is right before us without checking our emails or worrying about tomorrow. With all that has happened these past two years in the world around us, I think we would all benefit from trying to focus on the present and enjoy what is right in front of us.
There are lots of books and tips online on how to guide you on how to learn to live in the moment, but here is one thing to try. Slow down and savor something you often do every day. A study in Psychology Today found that when subjects in a study took a few minutes each day to actively savor something they usually hurried through—eating a meal, drinking a cup of tea, walking to the bus—they began experiencing more joy, happiness, and other positive emotions, and fewer depressive symptoms.
I would also recommend just taking a few minutes each day to pray and thank God for whatever is happening at that time. Whether it’s first thing in the morning, the middle of the afternoon or when you are ending your day, look around thank God for whatever is in front of you at that moment. As I write this, I am thankful for beautiful Christmas music and the sun shining through my window at work!
Blessings,
Christine Broses
