“…we momentarily [lose] touch with ourselves and the full extent of our possibilities. Instead we fall into a robotlike way of seeing and thinking and doing. In those moments, we break contact with what is deepest in ourselves and affords us perhaps our greatest opportunities for creativity, learning and growing. If we are not careful, those clouded moments can stretch out and become most of our lives.”

– Jon Kabat-Zinn in Wherever You Go, There You Are

The Power of Mindful Moments

We often reflect on the past year as if it were just this one big chunk of time. What did we do this year? What have we checked off our lists? How have we changed and grown from last January to now?

I think, in doing so, we underestimate the power that we had in the moments. All those tiny, little moments in the past year, the past month, the past day when we were present and intentional about our actions. We never spend all of our time in this way, and that’s why those times are important. What we see as this big change in our lives this year was really just the sum of those moments.

So, reflect not on the year as a whole, but on those moments. When you decided to change, to do something different, to try something new. When you made a commitment to something. When you were present and made a decision. Do you remember those moments?

And as we look to the next year, keep this in mind. Don’t focus on nebulous goals and faraway targets, but instead focus on the actions we have to take in the present moment to get us there.

In each passing moment lies the power to gather up the mindfulness and do something. This is it. So what are you doing right now?