The Key to Being Happy in the Present Moment

If you don't know how to be happy where you are right now, you won't know how to be happy when "it" finally happens.

Fill in the blanks for whatever your "it" is.

One thing I'm learning in this season is that every new level of success that you reach is served with a side of new obstacles that you have to overcome.

Every time you overcome something and get to the other side, there's joy on the other side but there are also new obstacles.

So if you think about it, life is like an obstacle course that we're navigating one level at a time.

If you're always chasing happiness, thinking it's in the next season of your life, when "it" has finally happened or "it" is no longer an issue for you, you'll always be striving for next and always be disappointed when you get there and are faced with a new set of obstacles.

The key is understanding that because there is joy on the other side, you can choose to lean into that joy in each season as you navigate the new obstacles placed in your way.

When you learn to find joy in your current season, you learn to be content no matter the circumstances.

Here's a journaling exercise that I find helpful when trying to find joy in the present moment:

1. Take inventory of the current season you're in.

Think about where you are, right now, as of today.

• What do you like about the current season you're in?

• What don't you like about the current season you're in?

• What are some things you would like to change about the current season you're in?

• What are some pretty cool things that you get to enjoy in this season (that may not be in the next season of your life) that you want to be present for?

Take your time journaling out your responses to these prompts and then move on the next step.

2. Reflect on where you are coming from.

Sometimes, you're so focused on your current struggles that you cannot find joy in the current season because you've forgotten where you came from.

Think back to the last season you were in:

• What were some of the obstacles you were facing then?

• What were some of the things that you were working towards?

• What were some things that you were praying for?

• What were some things you hated about that season?

Truly take the time to reflect on these prompts and as you answer them, I bet you'll find yourself smiling at the realization that there is so much that you have already overcome that you get to bask in, in this season of your life.

3. Compare the current season you're in and the season you're coming out of.

Now that you've taken the time to reflect not only on where you are right now, but on where you want to be, compare the two and note any changes.

• What are some things you were praying for that are currently happening?

• What are some things you hated about your previous season that you're no longer experiencing?

• What are some obstacles that you were facing that you're no longer struggling with?

Take a pause here and truly bask in, and appreciate how far you've come.

In moments when you feel frustrated about where you are, lean into this reminder - that for every new obstacle you get to face in this season, there is an obstacle that you have overcome in the previous season of your life.

BONUS: Be intentional about living in the present everyday

Daily intentionality is key to changing your attitude towards life. The changes you seek in your life are a progressive result of the daily choices you're making. So being intentional, every day to take steps towards your goal is key.

We have a new planner coming out this year - the Daily Intentions Planner - which will help you do just that: practice daily intentionality.

This planner is a 90-day planner designed to help you be intentional about:

• Nurturing your relationship with God,

• Taking care of yourself,

• Being more present in your day-day life, and

• Setting daily tasks each day to work towards your big goals.

If you want to be notified when it's officially available for pre-order, sign up here.

Until then, you can practice daily intentionality by setting a daily reminder in your phone to "remember to live in the present today".

I pray that you found this blog post helpful and that it has given you ideas on how to be happier in the present moment.

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