Why Embracing the Moment Will Change Your Life

May 07, 2026

“The present moment is all you ever have.” Eckhart Tolle

woman in white long sleeve shirt and green pants standing on beach during daytime — Photo by Vika Strawberrika on Unsplash

I am old enough to remember a time when people wouldn’t pull out their smartphones to capture the moment with photos or videos. Smartphones didn’t exist then. We captured a moment by reveling in it. We created memories we could cherish. People then were more present in their lives.

We can’t hop in a time machine and go back to pre-smartphone days. However, we can train ourselves to embrace the moment with mindfulness. The American Psychological Association defines it as “awareness of one’s internal states and surroundings.”

Mindfulness has many mental health benefits. It can “improve cognitive function, resolve emotional exhaustion, and reduce perceived stress,” according to an article published in the International Journal of Social Sciences Review.

In addition to mental health benefits, focusing on the present has spiritual and relational benefits. When we are aware of the present moment, we also become aware of God’s presence. We can become who God created us to be, rather than continuing to live out of our false selves.

The Practice of Mindfulness

“The task of meditation is to concentrate our attention wholly in and on the reality of the present moment. In meditation, we seek to enter fully into the now, and there to live our lives in the utmost.” John Main

Paying attention to my surroundings is one way I can practice mindfulness, particularly when I am distressed. My therapist mentions it frequently. Using my senses is a great way to self-soothe while being in the moment. For example, if I am outside, I can notice that the grapevines are still devoid of leaves, the sky is gray, there is the sound of the wind, and the smell of rain. When I eat lemon squares, I can notice the combination of tart and sweet, the yellow of the bars, and their texture in my hands.

Meditation is another way to train the mind to be more mindful. I like to close my eyes and focus on my breathing for 10 minutes. When my mind wanders, I bring it back to my breathing. That type of meditation teaches me mindfulness while I learn about my mind.

I have a monkey mind like everyone else on the planet. And it’s okay. My mind jumps from thought to thought. When I focus on my breath during meditation, I let thoughts go, which helps me let go of ineffective thoughts when I am not meditating.

Embrace Radical Acceptance

“Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it. Make it your friend and ally, not your enemy. This will miraculously transform your whole life.” Tolle

We will not always like the present moment, particularly when we are unhealthy. However, we can accept it. Fighting against reality takes up too much of our energy. It’s far easier to accept our circumstances. That is called radical acceptance.

Sometimes we can’t change what’s going on in our lives. It’s in those moments when radical acceptance helps. It also helps with the past, which we can never change. However, we make the same mistakes and think the outcome will be different. By accepting the past, we free ourselves to focus on the present. We make better choices as a result.