{"id":86359,"date":"2022-12-12T00:38:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-12T04:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=86359"},"modified":"2022-12-14T15:48:31","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T19:48:31","slug":"present-moment-awareness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/present-moment-awareness\/","title":{"rendered":"Present-Moment Awareness: Cultivate It to Find Happiness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What’s present-moment awareness? Is it the same as mindfulness<\/a>? How can you practice it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mo Gawdat suggests that, for happiness to endure, we must embrace five pillars, which he calls \u201cultimate truths.\u201d These five pillars lead to joy\u2014an unwavering state of happiness. The first of these pillars is present-moment awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more to learn about this practice and the difference it can make in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Present-Moment Awareness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gawdat\u2019s discussion of present-moment awareness dovetails with his discussion on the misconception of time, where he argues that only the present moment exists. Accordingly, he asserts that, to be happy, you must spend time fully aware of the present moment<\/strong>. In particular, cultivate presence <\/em>to reach awareness<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: In essence, this concept amounts to an endorsement of mindfulness<\/em><\/a>, the practice of focusing your attention on the present moment. Research has vindicated the effectiveness of mindfulness and demonstrated that increased mindfulness is linked to improved self-reported well-being<\/a> and decreased anxiety and depression<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Present-moment awareness is when we\u2019re in touch with our surroundings and fully grasp the world. Because we\u2019re inundated with distractions, however, Gawdat concedes that awareness is difficult. Yet, he asserts that present-moment awareness is actually our default state\u2014as soon as you open your eyes with the aim of becoming aware, you\u2019ll become aware. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: When we stop focusing on the outside world, neuroscientists hold that the default mode network <\/em>becomes active<\/a>. This network leads to increased introspection, like daydreaming and ruminating on the past, and studies show that mindfulness decreases <\/em>this network\u2019s activity<\/a>. So, awareness doesn\u2019t seem to be our default state\u2014rather, our default is introspection, and we can cultivate awareness to resist this default.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To return to this default state, Gawdat offers several concrete strategies, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n