Happy in the moment

"The world would have us believe happiness in life comes from having something: money, possessions, status, a significant other.  But true happiness comes from living in the moment.  That means bringing your all to doing the right things in the here and now, in the today."

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LDS singles life has its ups and downs, just like any other life.  Focusing too much on the negative can lead us to overestimate the proportion of challenges in our lives.  We can think things are worse than they really are.  We can even think life has little if any positive value.

Many of us Latter-day Saints have sung, "Then wake up and do something more/ Then dream of your mansions above."  How many of us truly live that message?  Do we spend our time simply dreaming about the future we want?  Do we while away the hours fretting about a past we cannot change?  Or do we focus on taking action now, on what we can do in the present moment, to make our dreams reality?

The world would have us believe happiness in life comes from having something: money, possessions, status, a significant other.  But true happiness comes from living in the moment.  That means bringing your all to doing the right things in the here and now, in the today.

Stop dreaming about tomorrow or fretting about yesterday at the expense of living today.  Regardless of your circumstances, you can be happy in the present moment.

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Capture a vision

Living in the present moment may not appeal to you if your life is dull or unpleasant.  Imagining an attractive future will always seem more comfortable.  After all, you can imagine anything you want, and it’s really easy to escape there.

Hey, Dolly Daydream!  Try this much better use for your imagination.  Instead of escaping the present unattractive moment, let's put that imagination to work changing the present moment.  Let's figure out what you can do today to make today a better, more attractive place.

There's a big difference between imagining a better future and creating a positive vision.  If you use your imagination simply as an escape, your life will never change.  Life changes only when you change.

And you generally aren't any better for just dreaming.  If you spend all your time dreaming instead of acting, you’re not getting any closer to making that dream reality.  Dwelling in a comfortable tomorrow that never comes is a true waste of time.

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Change yourself

Alternatively, you can use your imagination to discover avenues for change.  You can create a vision of greatness for your life.  And you can take action that lies within your control and unfolds that vision.  After all, no one's world changes without action.

And no one’s world changes without changes in themselves.  It’s human nature to blame everyone else around you and say you’re not where you want to be or who you want to be because of him or her or them or anybody else but yourself.  But no one who has that habit is ever happy.  That’s because happiness requires you to own your life.

Truly happy people aren’t blind to the challenges of mortality.  They don’t wear rose-colored glasses and play Polly Anna all day.  They simply look to better themselves instead of wishing everything around them were better.  They seek to improve upon themselves so they can come off conqueror against their challenges.

True happiness is giving your all to the right things in your life.  You can’t give your all when you’re constantly looking for someone other than yourself to blame.  That’s why happiness requires you to own your life.  Accept that where you are and who you are result from choices you’ve made, and then move from that starting point towards the dream destination you desire.

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Remember your tender mercies

Don’t forget to acknowledge the tender mercies all around you.   They help you see you're not alone in your journey.  The Creator of all things — and that all things includes you — will help you achieve your righteous desires.  Each of His tender mercies proves that truth which is both instructive and personally reassuring.

Being happy in the present moment, regardless of your circumstances, requires that you surrender your cares to the Lord and yourself to love.  He Who calmed the winds and the waves invites

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Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28–30)

No matter what obstacles you face, He can and will help you achieve the blessings He wants you to have.  The winds and the waves still obey Him.  They always have, and they always will.  While your journey may at times be uncomfortable, He can, does, and will help you to make it enjoyable.

Remembering His tender mercies reminds us He loves us and will never abandoned us.  Remembering His strength gives us strength to trust all will be well in the end.  And those memories provide courage to continue stepping forward in our lives.

When you have that faith, you can truly be happy in the present moment.  And that will bring more joy in your journey.