We only have moments to live

We live in the age of information. And, in the information age, knowledge is a vital resource. What's more, as we all know, knowledge resides in the mind. So, it is not surprising that Peter Drucker once said the most important of the modern technologies is cognitive science.

Last week I mentioned Jon Kabat-Zinn and his book Full Catastrophe Living. As I had mentioned, the book is about mindfulness. You see, if the mind is critically important, it only makes sense that we be mindful.

In fact, this indeed is the current state of the cognitive sciences. These days many psychologists incorporate mindfulness into their practices.

Controlling the mind is largely a function of the ability to focus and pay attention. This is where meditation becomes very important. Through the practice of mediation, and mindful awareness, we can increase our ability to focus and pay attention.

One of the main problems is the mind's tendency to wander. We often live in the past or the future. It can be quite hard to exist in the present. But, paying attention to our experience, in the present moment, is the key to focus.

It is virtually impossible to be mindful if we cannot focus on the present moment. And, this is where I wanted to pass along a saying from Kabat-Zinn's book. Kabat-Zinn says, "We only have moments to live."

The past is gone and the future is yet to arrive. All we have is this moment. Some people like to say the past is history and the future is a mystery.

We can become overly fixated on the past or the future. And, thus, we miss this moment. So, I want you to remember, we only have moments to live. One way to improve your ability to be present is through the practice of mindful meditation. Which is why I recommend Kabat-Zinn's book.