110 Encouraging Quotes About Living in the Moment

110 Encouraging Quotes About Living in the Moment

Living in the moment encourages us to focus on the present and appreciate the beauty of all we have around us. In a society that often feels like it’s moving at the speed of light, it’s easy to get caught up in the past or worry about the future. But the truth is that the only moment we have is right now. Being mindful of the present is a challenge, especially when many people find themselves constantly stressed and overwhelmed, often claiming they don’t have time to ‘slow down’. However, the most experienced mindfulness practitioners often say that when you feel you don’t have time for mindfulness, it’s when you need it the most.

Being present and fully engaged in the current moment can help you better understand yourself and your emotions. This self-awareness can lead to personal growth and a greater sense of purpose in life. As a licensed clinical mental health therapist, I practice mindfulness with my clients and myself.

To help inspire you to live in the moment, I have compiled a list of 110 encouraging quotes about living in the moment. These quotes come from various sources, including mental health professionals, philosophers, writers, and spiritual leaders. They all share a common theme: embracing the present and finding joy in the moment.

Quotes About Embracing the Present

When we focus on the present, we become more aware of our thoughts and emotions, which can help us regulate them. This can lead to greater emotional intelligence and self-awareness.

To begin, as the quote by Lao Tzu says, “If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.”

• “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” – Buddha
• “The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
• “The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness. Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you are doing.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
• “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the now the primary focus of your life.” – Eckhart Tolle
• “The only way to survive eternity is to be able to appreciate each moment.” – Lauren Kate
• “Forever is composed of nows.” – Emily Dickinson
• “Life gives you plenty of time to do whatever you want to do if you stay in the present moment.” – Deepak Chopra
• “Life is available only in the present moment.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

• “The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.” – Abraham Maslow
• “The art of life is to live in the present moment.” – Emmet Fox
• “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha
• “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.” – Bil Keane
• “Living in the present moment creates the experience of eternity in every moment.” – Deepak Chopra
• “The present moment is the only moment available to us, and it is the door to all moments.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
• “Mindfulness isn’t difficult, we just need to remember to do it.” – Sharon Salzberg
• “Mindfulness practice means that we commit fully in each moment to be present; inviting ourselves to interface with this moment in full awareness, with the intention to embody as best we can an orientation of calmness, mindfulness, and equanimity right here and right now.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn

Quotes About Overcoming Worries and Regrets

Stress is an inevitable part of life, and it’s essential to learn how to manage it in a healthy way. One way to do this is to practice mindfulness and meditation. As Eckhart Tolle’s famous quote goes, “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.”

Breathing exercises can also be a great way to manage stress and anxiety. As I learned from the quote by Thich Nhat Hanh, “Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” Focusing on our breath allows us to return to the present moment and find calmness amid chaos. As the quote by Rumi reminds us, “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today, I am wise, so I am changing myself.” We can cultivate self-awareness through meditation and learn to let go of negative thoughts and emotions.

• “You can’t change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future.” – Anonymous
• “Regret is a waste of time. Use the lessons learned to move forward.” – Anonymous
• “Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles. It takes away today’s peace.” – Randy Armstrong
• “Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.” – Maya Angelou
• “Let go of the past and go for the future. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau
• “The only thing I regret about my past is the length of it. If I had to live my life again, I’d make all the same mistakes, only sooner.” – Tallulah Bankhead

• “Worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere.” – Van Wilder
• “Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be.” – Sonia Ricotti
• “If only. Those must be the two saddest words in the world.” – Mercedes Lackey
• “Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can’t build on it; it’s only good for wallowing in.” – Katherine Mansfield
• “Don’t brood. Get on with living and loving. You don’t have forever.” – Leo Buscaglia
• “The past cannot be changed, forgotten, edited or erased; it can only be accepted.” – Anonymous
• “Stop focusing on your regrets and start focusing on your journey.” – Anonymous

Quotes About Gratitude and Appreciation

Gratitude is the key to happiness and contentment. Here are some inspiring quotes to remind us to be grateful for what we have:

• “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
• “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” – Melody Beattie
• “When you are grateful, fear disappears, and abundance appears.” – Tony Robbins
• “When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in.” – Kristin Armstrong

Appreciation is a powerful tool for mental wellness. Here are some quotes to inspire us to cultivate thankfulness:

• “Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” – Marcel Proust
• “Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy – because we will always want to have something else or something more.” – David Steindl-Rast
• “The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see.” – Mary Davis
• “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” – Eckhart Tolle

Quotes About Mindful Reflections

As I continue to explore the concept of living in the moment, I have realized the importance of mindful reflections. Reflecting on our experiences and actions can help us better understand ourselves and the world around us. Here are some quotes that inspire me to practice mindful reflection:

• “The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates
• “Self-reflection is a humbling process. It’s essential to find out why you think, say, and do certain things…then better yourself.” – Sonya Teclai
• “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
• “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
• “Self-reflection is the school of wisdom.” – Baltasar Gracián
• “Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak.” – Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati

• “Look within. Within is the fountain of good, and it will ever bubble up if thou wilt ever dig.” – Marcus Aurelius
• “In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.” – Buddha
• “We do not learn from experience… we learn from reflecting on experience.” – John Dewey
• “Self-awareness gives you the capacity to learn from your mistakes as well as your successes. It enables you to keep growing.” – Lawrence Bossidy
• “The journey into self-love and self-acceptance must begin with self-examination… until you take the journey of self-reflection, it is almost impossible to grow or learn in life.” – Iyanla Vanzant
• “Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

These quotes remind me to step back and reflect on my thoughts, actions, and relationships. Doing so allows you to learn from your mistakes, appreciate your successes, and grow while gaining a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you.

Quotes About Finding Joy in Everyday Moments

As I continue to explore the theme of living in the moment, I am reminded of the importance of setting intentions. When we set our intentions, we create a roadmap for how we want to live our lives. We become more mindful of our actions and can better appreciate the joy surrounding us.

• “The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
• “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama
• “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Brault
• “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama XIV
• “Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home… it’s your responsibility to love it, or change it.” – Chuck Palahniuk
• “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
• “The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us.” – Ashley Montagu
• “There are moments when all anxiety and stated toil are becalmed in the infinite leisure and repose of nature.” – Henry David Thoreau
• “Do what makes you happy, be with who makes you smile, laugh as much as you breathe, and love as long as you live.” – Rachel Ann Nunes
• “When we practice loving kindness and compassion, we are the first ones to profit.” – Rumi

Quotes About Connecting with Others

One of the most essential things in life is our relationships with others. Here are some quotes that inspire me to work on improving my relationships:

• “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.” – Peter Drucker
• “To be kind is more important than to be right. Many times, what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks but a special heart that listens.” – Unknown
• “When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.” – William Arthur Ward
• “The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
• “To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu
• “Love is not something you feel. It is something you do.” – David Wilkerson

We all need a sense of community and connection in our lives. Here are some quotes that remind me of the importance of these things:

• “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
• “We are all in this together and we are all connected.” – Anita Moorjani
• “The greatest gift you can give someone is your time because when you give your time, you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back.” – Unknown
• “The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.” – Carl Jung
• “We’re all just walking each other home.” – Ram Dass
• “I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” – Brené Brown

• “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” – Dale Carnegie
• “The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.” – Rachel Naomi Remen
• “We don’t meet people by accident. They are meant to cross our path for a reason.” – Unknown
• “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” – Alan Watts
• “Ultimately the bond of all companionship, whether in marriage or in friendship, is conversation.” – Oscar Wilde
• “In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.” – Khalil Gibran

• “Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing.” – Rollo May
• “Connection is the energy that is created between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” – Brené Brown
• “The language of friendship is not words but meanings.” – Henry David Thoreau
• “The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.” – Elisabeth Foley
• “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb
• “A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” – Walter Winchell.

• “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
• “A friend is what the heart needs all the time.” – Henry Van Dyke
• “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'” – C.S. Lewis
• “True friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable.” – David Tyson Gentry
• “Friendship is the golden thread that ties the heart of all the world.” – John Evelyn
• “The love that you withhold is the pain that you carry lifetime after lifetime.” – Alex Collier

Quotes About Balancing, Planning, and Living Now

Distractions can be a significant obstacle in our journey toward living in the moment. It’s easy to get sidetracked by the many distractions surrounding us, like social media, emails, and notifications. “Be where your feet are” is a simple but powerful reminder to stay focused on the present moment.

• “Live life with balance and learn to assess future needs without neglecting today’s desires.” – Robert Rivers
• “The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Gandhi
• “Balance, peace, and joy are the fruit of a successful life. It starts with recognizing your talents and finding ways to serve others by using them.” – Thomas Kinkade
• “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” – Woody Allen
• “You can’t plow a field simply by turning it over in your mind.” – Gordon B. Hinckley
• “In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
• “The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.” – Sydney J. Harris
• “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon

• “It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?” – Henry David Thoreau
• “Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.” – Andrew Jackson
• “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb
• “Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson
• “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” – Charles Darwin
• “Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.” – Jana Kingsford
• “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” – Buddha
• “Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” – Nido Qubein
• “Life is a balance of holding on and letting go.” – Rumi

How to Incorporate These Quotes Daily?

Incorporating these quotes into your daily routine can be a great way to remind yourself to live in the moment. Here are a few ways you can do that:

1. Write them down

One way to incorporate these quotes into your daily routine is to write them down. You can write them on sticky notes and place them around your home or workspace, or keep a journal where you write down a new quote daily.

2. Repeat them to yourself

You can choose a quote that resonates with you and repeat it to yourself throughout the day. This can help you stay focused on the present moment and remind you to appreciate the little things in life.

3. Use them as a mantra

You can also use these quotes as a mantra during meditation or yoga. Choose a quote that speaks to you and repeat it yourself during practice. This can help you stay focused and centered and remind you to live in the moment.

4. Share them with others

Finally, you can share these quotes with others. You can post them on social media or share them with friends and family. This can help spread positivity and inspire others to live in the moment.

Wrap-Up

Living in the moment can be challenging when we’re faced with real-life obstacles like stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. However, these obstacles or moments can also be opportunities for growth and learning. By acknowledging and accepting our emotions, we can learn to navigate difficult situations more efficiently and gracefully. Practicing mindfulness and self-care can help us stay grounded and present in the face of challenges.

Overall, I believe that balancing, planning, and living in the moment is a continuous journey that requires patience, practice, and self-awareness. By staying focused on the here and now, and taking small steps towards your goals, you can cultivate a sense of peace, joy, and fulfillment in your lives. Whether you are looking for inspiration to overcome worries and regrets, find gratitude and appreciation, or connect with others, these quotes about living in the moment will inspire you to live right where you need to be and embrace gratitude’s power in your self-awareness journey.  

About the Author:

Justine Bond is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and an EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist at Infinite Healing and Wellness. Justine primarily works with adult individuals, couples, and families utilizing eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and emotion-focused therapy (EFT) treatment modalities. Justine is dedicated to helping others, looking within, and accessing the most authentic and most genuine parts of self.

Justine also teaches eager students in the behavioral health sciences program at a local community college, guiding and shaping the future of mental health care professionals! When Justine is not meeting with clients or teaching, she enjoys practicing self-care with her fiancé, being outdoors or on walks with their beloved Maltipoo Charlie, and traveling to new and exciting destinations both in and out of Arizona!  

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