Use This To Appreciate the Moment

That's Philosophical #12

Welcome to That’s Philosophical. Twice a week, I send you inspirational ideas to become a more mindful person in a world that can’t take a break.

You can read the web version here.

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When I see something beautiful, feel a unique emotion, when I am with a close person, or when I just feel comfortable, I try to be grateful and remember that moment. But when I focus too much on it, sometimes I miss the very essence of it.

I often get caught up in a thinking of “this will feeling end soon”, which I mentioned in my first post about Buddhism principles. The root of all problems is craving.

“It is like a man standing for decades on the seashore, embracing certain ‘good’ waves and trying to prevent them from disintegrating, while simultaneously pushing back ‘bad’ waves to prevent them from getting near him. 

Day in, day out, the man stands on the beach, driving himself crazy with this fruitless exercise. Eventually, he sits down on the sand and just allows the waves to come and go as they please.” 

- Yuval Noah Harari.

While we shouldn’t crave more “good” moments and fewer “bad” ones, we can be grateful for whatever is happening to us. Here is what I use to remember the good times.

Use this phrase to help you be more grateful:

• This may be the last time in my life when I ___.

• This could be the last time in my life when I hug this person.

• This could be the last time in my life when I go to the cinema to enjoy a movie.

• It could be the last time in my life when I drink delicious tea.

• It could be the last sunset I see in my life.

And so on. Some people may not like repeating this, because of the constant reminder of life’s mortality. But I love how these phrases always give me a reality check.

Life can end at any moment, so spend the rest of your time here in a way you won't regret.

Just think about it, if it was the last time you do something or see someone in your life, would this moment grow into something more meaningful?

Instantly, the hugs become warmer, movies more captivating, and sunsets more magical. It’s amazing how a different mindset can completely change the feeling. Embrace the moment.

This philosophy can be applied to fear too. It may be one of the rarest or even last opportunities of your life, so will you capture it? Or just let it slip because of fear?

Here's another phrase to help you understand the significance of the moment:

"If this isn't nice, I don't know what is."

When you feel joy, happiness, warmth -remember the phrase, whisper it, or say it to someone. For example, -“If that isn’t a great evening, then I don't know what is.”.

It gives you a new perspective and if it becomes a habit, when life feels boring, think of how many times you've repeated those words.

Appreciate the life you are given just once, the little moments of happiness make life worth living. We tend to take everything for granted and rarely slow down to look back. That’s the mission of this newsletter, so let’s slow down and be thankful for the little things.

“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”

―Abraham Lincoln

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Thanks for reading, have a fantastic weekend!

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