I think this is why most children are always far more happier than adults. Because they live in the moment. They never worry about what others think and say. Or their future. When I was a kid, I never thought of the future or the past.
"When I was a kid, I never thought of the future or the past." When I was young I often thought ''wish I was a grown up and go my own way, for from here-and-now. Now that I'm an OAPerson I somehow manage to live in the present and accept that I just had 'bad luck' when I was a kid.
“The true definition of mental illness is when the majority of your time is spent in the past or future, but rarely living in the realism of NOW.” ― Shannon L. Alder
Oh God this brings tears in my eyes. I remember I read this when I first got my phone and I was still immature and didnt actually understand the meaning and now I’m fully aware of it. Okay I’m crying right now
"The past makes you wanna die out of regret and the future makes you depressed out of anxiety. So by elimination, the present is likely the happiest time." -8man
You comment is a near quote by Lao Tzu. “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.”
I am convinced this is why people get so much benefit from having a pet. Humans are the only animal that has a concept of "tomorrow" and all the dread which that entails. A dog lives in the here and now because where else would he be? The sun comes up, the sun goes down - it really is that simple to him. So one look at his face reminds us of what really matters. He may be less cerebral, but by not being distracted by petty things like taxes or insurance or rent that's due, he enjoys that walk in the park as if he's in Eden. And it haunts us because part of us knows we should too.
owlcu So true. Looking at your dog when you're with them all you see is joy. They're glad you're here, and you're all they're focused on. Unfortunately enough, we can't just be happy most of the time like they are. 48% of us is in the past, 48% of is worrying about the future and the rest is here.
Having Anxiety, staying in the present moment was particularly hard for me. I'd always fret about the unknown terrible future or regret the wasted past. Practicing mindfulness meditation though has absolutely changed the way I think. I know it sounds cheesy and one of those "new age" hippie fads, but seriously, practicing mindfulness 10 mins a day is a mental exercise that will strengthen the ability to anchor your mind in the present and both appreciate the pleasant moments while also being better able to deal with the shitty ones. Best of luck, friends.
Same here Even I am anxious all the time not being able to focus on any work I do. But though I do meditation iam not being able to be consistent on being in present moment all 7 days in week, somedays my mind goes crazy And like whenever I spend some beautiful moments I tend to think a lot about them n hence I lose focus again How do I deal wth this
Guys... It really sounds simple, maybe even stupid : But you just have to do it! If you want to change something in your life, start right now! Don't wait for the "right moment", cause you'll never find it...
because the mistakes that I made years ago are the reason I am where I don't want to be. it's easy to give up and fall into self loathing but I promise it feels so good to take charge of your life...take the wheel.
Most people use daydreaming and fantasy as a coping mechanism because their present situation is so unhappy. So why should we want to constantly return to that unhappiness when we could be somewhere else? I have never heard any meditation master explain this. They always go on and on about how the present moment is a gift, but what if it's not for some people? What if you have a bad job or you have abusive parents and you just don't want to live in that reality and you have no way out? What other option is there but to escape inside your head? Can someone here explain it to me, because I honestly don't get it.
Eckhart Tolle has an interesting take on this, though many people disagree with him when they first hear it. That is - you have no problems in the present "moment." You have things you can do, and you have things you can't do. That's it. If you CAN do something about a bad situation, then you do it. If you can't, then it's not practical to worry about it. Worry is a projection into the future. When you use the phrase "present situation" - the word "situation" implies that you're not really in the present; you have a story that encompasses some negative thoughts from the past as well as anxiety about the future. But if you can really focus on the MOMENT (again, paraphrasing Tolle), then you may realize that you're NOT actually unhappy. You've created unhappiness by the weight of past and future thoughts. In reality, in this present moment, you just have actions you can take and actions you can't take. [That said - oh yeah - it's difficult to actually put into practice!]
Then you use the present moment to get out of that situation. Work on your Cv to hand out, either talk to someone about the abusive situation and work on a way out of it. If you are constantly worried on your situation you'll be thinking too much elsewhere to work on getting out of it. You use now to act on it so the future will sort itself out. Now is all we've got. Hope that helps.
This is my point of view : The other option is to learn to get out of the anxiety even without reading (escaping). I think that the problem with escaping by reading is that you dodge your fear and anxiety (in the present) instead of fighting it to be happy (in the present). Thus you are only happy when you read, and never when you don't even if you are not exposed (in the present) to what creates this anxiety . So if there exist moments in your life during wich you can't read but are not exposed to the problem, you still won't be able to be happy, and it may represent a lot of time, it is this happiness that you loose if you often escape. And it also hurts a lot when you come back to reality, you feel a huge drop from hapiness to sadness, you "loose" a lot. "loosing" something we have hurts more than "gaining" it back, that's an other reason why escaping is not viable on the long term. It can be dangerous for us when falling back to reality if it hurts too much ...
I remember watching this channel when it had less than 100k subscribers. Now it's about to hit 1.4 million subscribers! It's lovely to see how much this channel has grown-- excellent work, School of Life! Thank you for sharing your wisdom with the world.
These should be taught in school from grade 0 - University, all around the world. If they were, the world would be a better place. They should be funded by the world governments.
I realized this, too, a while ago. Since then I have tried to come up with "techniques" that will allow me to appreciate the presence. For example, when I am on holiday I have made it a ritual to just stop and look around. I tell myself to "take a picture" of this moment in order to keep it in my mind and take it out when times are bad. Trough this, I force myself to notice my surroundings, my feelings and just enjoy the moment. The more I have done this the easier it gets to just stop and observe. And, of course, it is great to have these moments "saved" in my brain and think of them when I have a bad day ;-)
The best way i think I’ve said this in the past to make it clear is “the second we realize that people do what they do bc they hate themselves, is the second we will love ourselves and have compassion for others”. I came to this insight after a very hard 6 months search into psychology, philosophy, physics, religion and myself, combined with the 37 yrs of my life experience
+lel765 time is a measure to make explanation of societal processes, like when to sleep or when to eat. A measure that tells us what is acceptable or why something is happening at that moment. Not a dimension, separate plane of existence, or otherwise. Soon we'll begin to realize this. Well, maybe not all of us
Our flow of thoughts is what makes our life, most of the time our thoughts are far from the present sorrounding just because we know the setting pretty well and it turns into day-to-day rutine, so the brain is looking for new challenges or turns back to the past emotions...
We live in a society where the present is never good enough. A society where there will always be more and better. We feel as if we won't be fully happy until we finally reach this point, but when that point is reached, we want more or something different. We are slaves to the future and we have to constantly remind ourselves that tomorrow is never promised and that today should be cherished.
Simple answer, it's hard to live in the present because civilization has never advanced this fast. We feel like the environment is changing faster than we can hold onto, so it forces us to think ahead in the future (with negative and positive thoughts) to be able to keep up. We humans are build for linear evolution, not exponential that is occuring right now. Adaptation takes time and now it's going to fast for many. Many jobs cease to exist, cultural differences have never been so close to anyone because of the internet. All this tension creates anxiety, you have to keep up in the present or try to find rest in the past or hopefully the better future.
Thank you very much! I try to be as mindful as possible, even when emotions sometimes take over. To be honest, last two years I have thought so much of what makes my life purpose full and what real values are. It was a lot of struggling, quite a hard time, but the more I focused on my problems instead of walking away from them the more I began to see the bigger picture from where they arise psychologically. I know that the time we live in creates alot of suffering but the key to solve or 'channel' it correctly is by becoming more mindful and engaging discussions with other people (privately or in public). I would suggest anyone to start with some simple meditation, because it can help alot with surface chatter of the mind :) Have a nice day man!
I agree with Tom. I just signed in to like and comment. Very interesting point of view, never thought of it. U know, i thought about when humanity stopped advancing/ evolving. But it will never happen. Because companies want to make money & people buy whatever is trending. Thats 1 reason, clearly its not the answer.
I have the opposite problem.... I'm a person with little memory, no past, no history, and no expectations for the future.... I've seen too many quotes about enjoying the present, that I might have taken too far. And now I hate it. Whatever is your motto, never be extremist, get a little bit of everything and you will probably be healthy and satisfied (everything in excess is bad,even moderation)
I'm not saying Alain is a prophet, but as far as secular figures of humanism thought, he's way up there on the list of figures to learn from. I think within a few decades we will see him as one of the leading Philosophers of the 21st centuries.
I always expect some great advice for life, but everything I get is: "It's normal, totally fine, just accept it." That's why I love all of this. It makes me feel normal.
Very true. My safety zone is the 1980's. My high school years. I think about them daily. The way my life was. When I would seat down with my friends and imagine the future, 30 years into the future (today) and dream of the way we thought that future was going to be. Was I for the surprise of my life? Never in a million years I foresaw this predicament of self doubt, feelings of failure and loneliness. What happened to that teenager full of self confidence and dreams listening to Van Halen on his Sony Walkman while running and doing sports. I must have taken the wrong train. Why didn't I take the "blue pill?"
It's fine to think about the past and present. The reason you constantly think about it --which can be bad-- is because you don't write your thoughts and to-do's down. Believe me it will change your life. You will be 10x more productive, 10x more calm because it's very unlikely that you forgot something... and the strangest thing is that feeling of nothing. The feeling of peace because you know everything is in order and you're becoming an efing boss! Try it. You will be able to enjoy the present more. A lot of it also has to do with how you feel about your self worth. Self development reduces anxiety magnificently. But going back to what I said. It's fine to think past and future. Good things in the past: lessons, funny moments, info you forgot. Bad things in the past: grudges, traumas, fears, insecurities. Good things in the future: goals, excitement, plans. Bad things in the future: fear, hopelessness, anxiety. Good things in the present: life, you can experience adrenaline, great happiness, you have so much power over your reality meaning you can decide to change things, you are conscious, you can use your senses only in the present past and present give you a rough idea. Don't let this video scare you into only being present --that's not their intention--. Be more present by organizing yourself and knowing the benefits of "the three times".
The simple answer is: because everything that you don't practice is hard. Living in the present is not something to be taken for granted, it is achieved through repetition. It consists of sitting without worrying if your emotions are appropriate to the present surrounding you. Just allow yourself to feel the discrepancy without trying to change it, nor beign afraid or judging it. It takes time and patience and many ups and downs, but you will eventually reach a level of stability that you never thought would be possible. Consistency is key.
I'm 23 years old. When I was 3 years old I remember my cousin left after having a great day of fun and me going to my room to look at my backyard through the window and just crying because I for some reason knew that life would not be as fun or easy when I got older. I'm sitting in my old neighborhood at 7:41AM crying because I for some reason cant grasp outside of the idea that I have no grow up. I never want my parents to die and I wish I had my old friends. Because I never was able to go to college I feel I have missed out on so much in life. I didnt get to make those life long friends that my brother sister and all of my cousins got to make. I had to work at 16 and have had a job ever since. I'm thankful u was able to get a really great job last year but I am so afraid of the future and that my life is meaningless. I just want to go back to those times hanging out in the backyard with my cousin.
the obscure, the unfamiliar and most uncertain moments of our lives are revealed and presented to us in small yet potent doses of sanity. thank you school of life and thank you alain de botton.
You know a lot of people experience severe hardship repeatedly during life. Try telling them that just worrying is their main problem. Which is what you’re doing.
I have used the material in this video to bring me back to the moment several times now. Thank you. Just simply being mindful to enjoy an activity that I know the memory of will be wonderful.
"Human desires are insatiable,for we are endowed by nature with the desire for evermore,and we are endowed by fortune with the ability to obtain little of what we desire. The result is an unending discontent,which makes us curse the present, praise the past,and hope in the future - with no reasonable motive..." N.Machiavelli
I think it’s that we are naturally story tellers/ narrators. Sometimes it’s easier to experience someone’s story than it is to experience our actual experience. It must be an evolutionary, pack animal trait.
I love this channel. It really brings everything on point... I myself try to be a lot more "creative" in this world, that's why I just started my UA-cam-Channel where I'm posting cinematic travel movies! But it's just so hard to get any attention in this world full of unnecessary information...
You see how your Videos fall also in the categorie off "unnecesary information". Of course its nice to get attention, but if you do the Videos to be creative you should be fine
With "unnecessary information" I mean videos where you don't have any revenue. For example all those prankster-clips out there. You watch them and just loose your lifetime... People watching my movies at least tell me that they feel inspired and I think, that's the reason why they aren't "unnecessary information".
You have 10,000 views in 2 month...What you have done and achieved so far is really good! Maybe stop seeking attention and focus on getting better is the way to go
So what about when your brain recalls almost exclusively negative memories? My recall of pain and guilt and betrayal are razor sharp; my memories of joy, amusement, and levity come in hazy at best.
My mind does this too, lately i have been thinking about all those social "mistakes" i made and what the other people will think of me.You have to accept the pain that comes with these thoughts, concetrate on it,feel it in your body,but DONT think about it.Otherwise the same though pattern will play over and over again in your head and the pain will keep growing.You are not these thought you are merely the observer of the them! I hope this will help you :)
This happens because your brain thinks recalling bad events improves your survival. You just have to meditate often to learn to control your thoughts. If you can't remember nice things, imagine them.
+BennieJackson I think it's basically because you haven't learnt to properly process trauma and painful emotions, and so they linger on in your subconscious. They'll keep resurfacing until you've managed to be present with the pain - your sustained conscious presence will resolve those past upsets. Which might sound simple in theory, but it does require a true willingness to drop any mental stories and simply meet the feelings that you've always unconsciously tried to repress.
Nice animation, but Alain seems to be telling us that it's ok to not be present because our edited version of the past is a more pleasant place to be. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rejecting the present is making us all dislocated and miserable. True presence is a calm, peaceful, meditative state. Eastern philosophers have studied this for millennia. Read Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now for a proper exploration of this.
I don't think that's what he was saying at all. I think he was trying to offer some explanation as to why it's difficult to stay in the present moment.
These vids surely help me to be a more compassionate being as it highlights the difficulties I endure while living. & at the same time creating the awareness that typically all others are undergoing the same horrors. Armed w/ that understanding and perspective, it is so much easier to let people off the hook & better get on w/ my day & life.
Zen Buddhism focusses on living in the moment. Basically, to a zen buddhist, the past and future don't matter, and to him a cool breeze or a cold glass of water in the now are as gratifying as the most luxurious sports car. I'm not one for religions but that is a beautiful idea to me.
Don’t think that these Zen people are really living in the present moment. Just look at their robe. From where does it come from? From a past tradition. Every morning one has to chant the whole line of masters starting with Shakya mundi. What is it? Remembering the past. And telling the old Zen stories of bygone times over and over again is clinging to the past. Let those old masters rot in their graves. Be in the present moment. How you sit, how you stand, how you walk, how you go to the toilet: that you can do by yourself . No need of an old Chinese master.
Wow. the illustration and the use of color reinforced this wise lesson in such a lovely, graphic way. I always look forward to your new content, but sometimes you all dazzle me.
"Quit. Don't quit. Noodles. Don't noodles. You are too concerned with what was and what will be. There's a saying: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That's why it is called present."
You can Still change. You are living in the past when you think you can't change. Live in the present. The present is full of possibilities. "The best time to change was yesterday, the 2nd best time is today"
Likewise. Alain has, at multiple points, advocated for just "putting everything down, and staring out the window for a while". As someone who has tried that -- it really, really helps.
I very much agree with the "putting things down." I thoroughly believe that the earth would be a better place if everyone would just chill out and look out the window for a while. I feel like I grow a little bit more as a person when I just forget the endless hamster wheel of life, and just think about whatever comes to mind
This is one view that I have experienced and can wholeheartedly agree with. I have thought about this a lot of times myself. "Nostalgia is the present enhanced by an editing machine."
+Leo Valentine stop just stop drug are not weed ya it's not bad it can calm people down stop pain etc but what he sad is awful for your brain if you studied something you would now it stop highways connecting your brain but I mean your butt hurt so I don't care
i'm bascially the master of regretting the past and fearing the future. where i am now, where many of us are now, is a terrible time to be, and so i think many of us have now been made equal in wishing either for when things were better, or when things will be better again, so i think this will be a learning lesson for us all in a way of how to appreciate the present for the first time, or more than ever before. i hope i wrote that well apologies if that came across poorly :)
Dear School of Life, could you please explore the topic of "living in the Present" more deeply? As being torn between the Past and the Future seems to be a normal state of mind for most of us these days...
In the Present You Tube has a need to present to us all what is really only necessary, having real messengers of Truth, with no motivation monetize so we can finally have missionaries instead of mercenaries who are not motivated by money, motivated not by gain & popularity, but by Love & Truth!
+The School Of Life something im very curious about. Could you guys make a video about the different trends we have in society, like for some period of time looking in a particular way or having specific tastes and opinions is considered socially better and after a short time those trends become obsolete so new trends arise. It might have to do with the collective unconscious, could you guys explain that? Thanks!
The problem you are referring to is a matter of individual differences and social classes. Keep in mind that India has over 56 distinct 'castes.' So, social classes is a maelstrom of horizontal and vertical groups, all of which change over time. There is a great deal of difference in each society. The strange thing is that members of each group act like their world is closed and dichotomize it into us and them or ingroup and outgroup, when in fact the number of different groups in each person's immediate geographical space is quite high.
All problems in life are fear. The fear of loosing of something you got attached to. Babies are gods as their mind has not got attached and hence they are joyful and playful. The moment we understand that one day we have to give up own body and there is nothing to loose then you get detached and you wont have fear. This comes with only with practice of meditation and you will start living in the present . Keep doing good deeds as what you give only comes back.
We all have an Inner-Self.It is the Inner-Self which controls our Emotions,Behaviours, Thoughts,etc.Through life we will face many Challenges,Issues,etc.We must have control of our Inner-Self to face the Challengers,Issues,etc.We must be Cool, Calm and Collective.We must use Logic, Reason,Intuition,Understanding,etc. I have studied Psychology and Philosophy. Remember the ALPHA is the OMEGA.
Ayoub Minen That's what I'm thinking. When this channel talks about the human condition, it only relates to some of us in certain personality groupings.
thank you for not disregarding your insights and giving value to them, till the extent of communicating so completely with artists that they were able to create art that perfectly aligns the words with the images, fully capturing the message, bringing us to drift away in our thoughts and converge with your words and pictures. Couldn't have absorbed it any better. thank you
This may be an older video, but I had a message to leave... Your videos have helped me with so many problems and puzzles I've faced in life, from those of emotions and relationships, to questions about careers, to difficulty understanding philosophy. These videos put things in such a way that I would never have considered. They have helped clear up so many questions, but more importantly have broadened my view and made me a more thoughtful person so that I may begin to answer questions like them for myself (and maybe others) in the future. I want to express my sincere thanks and full support of this amazing school and all its members.
It would honestly take longer than the normal TSOL video to cover that ground. The causes of unhappiness in the present are many and complex but one can use techniques to manage your thinking. Hint: look at meditation and mindfulness practices.
It isn't misleading, the video clearly explains why it's so hard to live in the present (just like the title states). It never claims to provide a solution. There is also no single solution to it. It's not that simple and everyone deals with it differently.
We all WERE born with the natural ability to enjoy the present and to be in alignment with ourselves. As kids we could easily make new friends carelessly run around the school yard and "live the moment" and "be in the present" with our friends. The conditioning we go through however disconnected us from the present and the constant clock-watching forcing us into a non-existing future. We can reconnect and regain our ability to being in the present (our natural state) through consciousness and self observation.
No - that would lessen the scope of the channel. Plus it isn't complex at all. People evolved to live in small groups related by blood and generally like people that are like themselves. Tribalism / fear / stereotyping / violence etc. all stem from our instincts to distrust unrelated people.
+dothedeed It wouldn't lessen the scope of the channel as the channel is designed to provide knowledge and comfort to those finding life difficult. The thinking behind ingroups and outgroups has ramifications that Philosophy can address, especially if it can provide coping strategies, if not solutions.
daniel henderson No where did I mention anything about a solution. My comment was about the origin of prejudice. The simple fact is that it will not go anywhere until there's a greater cost to being prejudiced than there are rewards.
Jonathan Beckinham Very true. But, all that means is the way we define "us" vs the outsiders has changed. Nationalism / religion, class etc are all stories we tell each other to create a boundary that defines the "us" in a larger sense than blood or other physical traits. There are still outsiders, the "them". And as long as there are "those people", people not included in the "we" or "us" then there will still be prejudice.
I live in the moment really dont think about my past or future too much!! I cant plan anything and have a hard time moveing my life forward a healthy balance is needed !!!
See their videos about art (visual art that is) and you'd understand. In short: they have pretty utilitarian approach to art. And personally I love them dearly for that. They appreciate good music, though, there's a whole room with CDs at the guest house they run.
I've learned to LISTEN to what people are saying to you, I've literally used every piece of good advice or even idiom I was given, as well as any useful actions people, esp loved ones, have given. Good advice and behavior sticks to your brain like glue and becomes your own if you embrace it.
The first minute in, the video was setting up imagery of people being physically someplace but their mind getting distracted, i.e. sitting at the beach but thinking about your job. Important points throughout the video: 1. Your mind is constantly traveling between the future and the past, but rarely ever is your mind fully in the present. 2. You enjoy moments more when they become a memory rather than when you're actually going through it; mostly because your brain has the ability to edit how you remember that day and it recalls the best parts of it and puts emphasis on it instead of the mundane parts, i.e. nostalgia. 3. Sheer anxiety can hinder enjoyment (i.e. receiving opportunity for job promotion but being afraid of the chance of rejection); we worry about the outcomes of situations and sometimes it overcomes the possible happiness that the situation can bring. This is natural in human beings. 4. Other people experience "not being in the moment" as well. For example, when you're speaking to someone and they seem distant or worried, their minds are probably elsewhere. They too will remember the moment differently than how it actually went. 5. We need to learn how to counteract this disloyalty of our brains and appreciate the moments we live through as and when they come. A moment only comes once and then it's stored in your memory forever. Make sure to enjoy it live.
Ive always had this problem, happy to know that especially you have picked up this problem too. Trying to live in the moment is one of the hardest tasks I ever put on myself. But when it works (when meditating for instance) it is one of the best experiences I will have in the week.
there have been moments where worrying about a future situation has helped me be prepared for that situation(like a job interview). worrying have me an edge.
+soslothful if you look at the words capitalized i think it is for ease of reading, so people who quickly glance can see the point of the topic without reading all the conjuctions. Its quite intelligent actually.
I don't think money is the root of all evil. I think the human condition is the root of all evil. On the flipside, it is also the root of all good (concerning humans anyway).
Money substitues love, so we marry money, not what we perceive the loving marriage as loving couples, it is beginning of facing problem when they are living under same roof together. do you agree?
It is surely very difficult to live in the present,with all the worries and anxiety. Today is important,tomorrow soon will be.And then all becomes memory .
I think this is why most children are always far more happier than adults. Because they live in the moment. They never worry about what others think and say. Or their future. When I was a kid, I never thought of the future or the past.
i wish i was still a kid, 😭 which makes me wanna act like a kid lmao 😂
This is true
"When I was a kid, I never thought of the future or the past." When I was young I often thought ''wish I was a grown up and go my own way, for from here-and-now. Now that I'm an OAPerson I somehow manage to live in the present and accept that I just had 'bad luck' when I was a kid.
I always think about my past mistakes but never really seem to improve
💯 i want my childhood days back those are golden days
"To live is the rarest thing in the world, most people just exist"
Oscar Wilde
“The true definition of mental illness is when the majority of your time is spent in the past or future, but rarely living in the realism of NOW.”
― Shannon L. Alder
Oh God this brings tears in my eyes. I remember I read this when I first got my phone and I was still immature and didnt actually understand the meaning and now I’m fully aware of it. Okay I’m crying right now
Just existing is my specialty tho lol.
@@NeoJiNeTiK please don't say I'm suffering from mental illness 😭😭😭💔💔
Tell that to people in Afghanistan and Iraq
TOP 3 modern distractions for living in the present:
1. Smartphone
2. Worrying about future while regretting the past
3. Endless desires and lust
💯% true
smart phones and selfie stics robbed people of their nature of rationality.
I'm focused on how the avatar came out 15 years ago and it sucks.
You are so damn right
Smartphone! There you said it!
Couldn't pay attention to this video, my mind was somewhere else.
Even i went back like 6 times.
Ä ä
Your reply is very funny.
ikr..
Same thing happened to me
"The past makes you wanna die out of regret and the future makes you depressed out of anxiety. So by elimination, the present is likely the happiest time."
-8man
accurate for loners XD
You comment is a near quote by Lao Tzu.
“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.”
lol ok
@@kristax6x613 joyo wasn't trying to quote a saying, dummy.
but what if i'm not happy in the present
I am convinced this is why people get so much benefit from having a pet. Humans are the only animal that has a concept of "tomorrow" and all the dread which that entails. A dog lives in the here and now because where else would he be? The sun comes up, the sun goes down - it really is that simple to him. So one look at his face reminds us of what really matters. He may be less cerebral, but by not being distracted by petty things like taxes or insurance or rent that's due, he enjoys that walk in the park as if he's in Eden. And it haunts us because part of us knows we should too.
owlcu So true. Looking at your dog when you're with them all you see is joy. They're glad you're here, and you're all they're focused on. Unfortunately enough, we can't just be happy most of the time like they are. 48% of us is in the past, 48% of is worrying about the future and the rest is here.
owlcu where’s “Eden?”
owlcu i feel same bout cats
Or having a baby
Having Anxiety, staying in the present moment was particularly hard for me. I'd always fret about the unknown terrible future or regret the wasted past. Practicing mindfulness meditation though has absolutely changed the way I think. I know it sounds cheesy and one of those "new age" hippie fads, but seriously, practicing mindfulness 10 mins a day is a mental exercise that will strengthen the ability to anchor your mind in the present and both appreciate the pleasant moments while also being better able to deal with the shitty ones. Best of luck, friends.
Same here
Even I am anxious all the time not being able to focus on any work I do. But though I do meditation iam not being able to be consistent on being in present moment all 7 days in week, somedays my mind goes crazy
And like whenever I spend some beautiful moments I tend to think a lot about them n hence I lose focus again
How do I deal wth this
I always think about what I'm going to do in the future, but then rarely actually do it :/
Same here
same here, It feels like nothing ever changes, but if Look back a lot of things changed, just not as radical as imagined or Intended
Yeah, I have the same issue.
Guys... It really sounds simple, maybe even stupid : But you just have to do it! If you want to change something in your life, start right now! Don't wait for the "right moment", cause you'll never find it...
That's why future and past are ilusory and the only time worth living in is the present.
Yesterday is history, tomorrows a mystery, today's a gift that's why they call it the present.
- master oogway
Rinzing BHUTIA why do you think this? Nothing good or bad lasts forever in this world.
Megan Eloise I just love how you put that!!💞
Nice poetry
Not always a gift.
because the mistakes that I made years ago are the reason I am where I don't want to be.
it's easy to give up and fall into self loathing but I promise it feels so good to take charge of your life...take the wheel.
Most people use daydreaming and fantasy as a coping mechanism because their present situation is so unhappy. So why should we want to constantly return to that unhappiness when we could be somewhere else? I have never heard any meditation master explain this. They always go on and on about how the present moment is a gift, but what if it's not for some people? What if you have a bad job or you have abusive parents and you just don't want to live in that reality and you have no way out? What other option is there but to escape inside your head? Can someone here explain it to me, because I honestly don't get it.
Eckhart Tolle has an interesting take on this, though many people disagree with him when they first hear it. That is - you have no problems in the present "moment." You have things you can do, and you have things you can't do. That's it. If you CAN do something about a bad situation, then you do it. If you can't, then it's not practical to worry about it. Worry is a projection into the future. When you use the phrase "present situation" - the word "situation" implies that you're not really in the present; you have a story that encompasses some negative thoughts from the past as well as anxiety about the future. But if you can really focus on the MOMENT (again, paraphrasing Tolle), then you may realize that you're NOT actually unhappy. You've created unhappiness by the weight of past and future thoughts. In reality, in this present moment, you just have actions you can take and actions you can't take. [That said - oh yeah - it's difficult to actually put into practice!]
Then you use the present moment to get out of that situation. Work on your Cv to hand out, either talk to someone about the abusive situation and work on a way out of it. If you are constantly worried on your situation you'll be thinking too much elsewhere to work on getting out of it. You use now to act on it so the future will sort itself out. Now is all we've got. Hope that helps.
This is my point of view :
The other option is to learn to get out of the anxiety even without reading (escaping).
I think that the problem with escaping by reading is that you dodge your fear and anxiety (in the present) instead of fighting it to be happy (in the present). Thus you are only happy when you read, and never when you don't even if you are not exposed (in the present) to what creates this anxiety .
So if there exist moments in your life during wich you can't read but are not exposed to the problem, you still won't be able to be happy, and it may represent a lot of time, it is this happiness that you loose if you often escape.
And it also hurts a lot when you come back to reality, you feel a huge drop from hapiness to sadness, you "loose" a lot. "loosing" something we have hurts more than "gaining" it back, that's an other reason why escaping is not viable on the long term. It can be dangerous for us when falling back to reality if it hurts too much ...
It is where you greet your Self.
@PapaSquat - excellent explanation!
Money can seem to perfectly define us and sum up our skills we spend hours slaving away for it and forget how little it tells you about a person
I remember watching this channel when it had less than 100k subscribers. Now it's about to hit 1.4 million subscribers! It's lovely to see how much this channel has grown-- excellent work, School of Life! Thank you for sharing your wisdom with the world.
These should be taught in school from grade 0 - University, all around the world.
If they were, the world would be a better place.
They should be funded by the world governments.
It’s 5.45 m now an this is my first video, the fact that I am writing this comment explain my problem an why I am watching this video. 🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️
It’s at 7.48 million subscribers now, and this channel deserves every one of them
Now 8 million
I realized this, too, a while ago. Since then I have tried to come up with "techniques" that will allow me to appreciate the presence. For example, when I am on holiday I have made it a ritual to just stop and look around. I tell myself to "take a picture" of this moment in order to keep it in my mind and take it out when times are bad. Trough this, I force myself to notice my surroundings, my feelings and just enjoy the moment. The more I have done this the easier it gets to just stop and observe. And, of course, it is great to have these moments "saved" in my brain and think of them when I have a bad day ;-)
The best way i think I’ve said this in the past to make it clear is “the second we realize that people do what they do bc they hate themselves, is the second we will love ourselves and have compassion for others”. I came to this insight after a very hard 6 months search into psychology, philosophy, physics, religion and myself, combined with the 37 yrs of my life experience
Only the present exists, the true inability we have is of realizing that past and future are all mental states of mind- and that time does not exist
100
Time does not exist, but it is given. Not states of our minds but the futuration of the future as the very other, as a modality of the «beyond being».
+lel765 nope. Future is our desires, goals, aspirations, expectations. Past are memories. All in the same same state. The present.
+lel765 time is a measure to make explanation of societal processes, like when to sleep or when to eat. A measure that tells us what is acceptable or why something is happening at that moment. Not a dimension, separate plane of existence, or otherwise. Soon we'll begin to realize this. Well, maybe not all of us
that's very interesting, I don't think I've ever thought about time like that...
Our flow of thoughts is what makes our life, most of the time our thoughts are far from the present sorrounding just because we know the setting pretty well and it turns into day-to-day rutine, so the brain is looking for new challenges or turns back to the past emotions...
+grown man thanx+)
Well said! In that case, what is the solution to the monotony if we do turn our attention to the present? I'm exploring that question...
+corissa craddick good quest🌝 to me the solution is to explore new things in the fields you love
And to keep moving towards what feels better :)
The brain want challenges if not it will look at he past?
'We need to be prepared for the weird way in which we align with the world'. Terrific quote. Not berate ourself.
Its hard to live the present because we dont know how to love the present. Thank u budhism for teaching me how to detach 😊 from a born muslim
sofi san ur muslim..y u hate muslim
We live in a society where the present is never good enough. A society where there will always be more and better. We feel as if we won't be fully happy until we finally reach this point, but when that point is reached, we want more or something different. We are slaves to the future and we have to constantly remind ourselves that tomorrow is never promised and that today should be cherished.
I'm in love with every single animation you use.
+jammadamma those are emotions brodah
And every single word they say as well.
yes
They represent how we scan moments to keep to ourselves only those which would bring us joy in the future.
Hello person with Hal profile pic!
literally on a Beach in the Cayman Islands surrounded by palm trees.... this was helpful :)
Simple answer, it's hard to live in the present because civilization has never advanced this fast. We feel like the environment is changing faster than we can hold onto, so it forces us to think ahead in the future (with negative and positive thoughts) to be able to keep up. We humans are build for linear evolution, not exponential that is occuring right now. Adaptation takes time and now it's going to fast for many. Many jobs cease to exist, cultural differences have never been so close to anyone because of the internet. All this tension creates anxiety, you have to keep up in the present or try to find rest in the past or hopefully the better future.
Thank you very much! I try to be as mindful as possible, even when emotions sometimes take over. To be honest, last two years I have thought so much of what makes my life purpose full and what real values are. It was a lot of struggling, quite a hard time, but the more I focused on my problems instead of walking away from them the more I began to see the bigger picture from where they arise psychologically. I know that the time we live in creates alot of suffering but the key to solve or 'channel' it correctly is by becoming more mindful and engaging discussions with other people (privately or in public).
I would suggest anyone to start with some simple meditation, because it can help alot with surface chatter of the mind :)
Have a nice day man!
I agree with Tom. I just signed in to like and comment. Very interesting point of view, never thought of it.
U know, i thought about when humanity stopped advancing/ evolving.
But it will never happen. Because companies want to make money & people buy whatever is trending.
Thats 1 reason, clearly its not the answer.
wise words
I feel so wise every time I watch a video of yours. you're awesome!
Thanks so much.
Thanks so much.
Thanks so much.
guys guys guys guys guys we ged it.
haha - your insults are so cute.
As someone with a diagnosed anxiety disorder, this is seriously comforting. Thank you for helping me understand myself a little better. :)
I would definitely recommend the book "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle, a life-changer!
I'm on it
I have the opposite problem....
I'm a person with little memory, no past, no history, and no expectations for the future....
I've seen too many quotes about enjoying the present, that I might have taken too far. And now I hate it. Whatever is your motto, never be extremist, get a little bit of everything and you will probably be healthy and satisfied (everything in excess is bad,even moderation)
Before Alain there was chaos. With Alain there is clarity. After Alain, there is uncertainty
Someone put this on a t-shirt/poster/wall, etc...!
I'm not saying Alain is a prophet, but as far as secular figures of humanism thought, he's way up there on the list of figures to learn from. I think within a few decades we will see him as one of the leading Philosophers of the 21st centuries.
And after uncertainty there is your mom (or depresions)
What does alain mean
Alain is the pseudonym under which French philosopher Émile-auguste Chartier wrote one the ear 1900s.
I always expect some great advice for life, but everything I get is: "It's normal, totally fine, just accept it." That's why I love all of this. It makes me feel normal.
Very true. My safety zone is the 1980's. My high school years. I think about them daily. The way my life was. When I would seat down with my friends and imagine the future, 30 years into the future (today) and dream of the way we thought that future was going to be. Was I for the surprise of my life? Never in a million years I foresaw this predicament of self doubt, feelings of failure and loneliness. What happened to that teenager full of self confidence and dreams listening to Van Halen on his Sony Walkman while running and doing sports. I must have taken the wrong train. Why didn't I take the "blue pill?"
It's fine to think about the past and present. The reason you constantly think about it --which can be bad-- is because you don't write your thoughts and to-do's down. Believe me it will change your life. You will be 10x more productive, 10x more calm because it's very unlikely that you forgot something... and the strangest thing is that feeling of nothing. The feeling of peace because you know everything is in order and you're becoming an efing boss! Try it. You will be able to enjoy the present more. A lot of it also has to do with how you feel about your self worth. Self development reduces anxiety magnificently.
But going back to what I said. It's fine to think past and future. Good things in the past: lessons, funny moments, info you forgot. Bad things in the past: grudges, traumas, fears, insecurities. Good things in the future: goals, excitement, plans. Bad things in the future: fear, hopelessness, anxiety.
Good things in the present: life, you can experience adrenaline, great happiness, you have so much power over your reality meaning you can decide to change things, you are conscious, you can use your senses only in the present past and present give you a rough idea.
Don't let this video scare you into only being present --that's not their intention--. Be more present by organizing yourself and knowing the benefits of "the three times".
Nailed it.
theoriginaljean Well said!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
i gotta disagree
The simple answer is: because everything that you don't practice is hard. Living in the present is not something to be taken for granted, it is achieved through repetition. It consists of sitting without worrying if your emotions are appropriate to the present surrounding you. Just allow yourself to feel the discrepancy without trying to change it, nor beign afraid or judging it. It takes time and patience and many ups and downs, but you will eventually reach a level of stability that you never thought would be possible. Consistency is key.
I think the same❤
Guys, thank you for this weekly therapy and confidence boosting. I REALLY appreciate your channel and work. Thank you :)
I'm 23 years old. When I was 3 years old I remember my cousin left after having a great day of fun and me going to my room to look at my backyard through the window and just crying because I for some reason knew that life would not be as fun or easy when I got older. I'm sitting in my old neighborhood at 7:41AM crying because I for some reason cant grasp outside of the idea that I have no grow up. I never want my parents to die and I wish I had my old friends. Because I never was able to go to college I feel I have missed out on so much in life. I didnt get to make those life long friends that my brother sister and all of my cousins got to make. I had to work at 16 and have had a job ever since. I'm thankful u was able to get a really great job last year but I am so afraid of the future and that my life is meaningless. I just want to go back to those times hanging out in the backyard with my cousin.
❤️
the obscure, the unfamiliar and most uncertain moments of our lives are revealed and presented to us in small yet potent doses of sanity. thank you school of life and thank you alain de botton.
I am really enjoying that art style. The black and white outline and the color representing emotions is really cool.
thought, emotion, personal action
it is all synonymous
I suffer from chronic anxiety :( thank you for all these videos.
+Nicholas Schrock when has that been proven?
Introvert ≠ Anxiety
You know a lot of people experience severe hardship repeatedly during life. Try telling them that just worrying is their main problem. Which is what you’re doing.
I have used the material in this video to bring me back to the moment several times now. Thank you. Just simply being mindful to enjoy an activity that I know the memory of will be wonderful.
I have learned how to live without anxiety! I enjoy my present to the fullest! And am glad about it
"Human desires are insatiable,for we are endowed by nature with the desire for evermore,and we are endowed by fortune
with the ability to obtain little of what we desire. The result is an unending discontent,which makes us curse the present,
praise the past,and hope in the future - with no reasonable motive..."
N.Machiavelli
I think it’s that we are naturally story tellers/ narrators. Sometimes it’s easier to experience someone’s story than it is to experience our actual experience. It must be an evolutionary, pack animal trait.
Nostalgia is the present enhanced by an editing machine. So true
I love this channel. It really brings everything on point...
I myself try to be a lot more "creative" in this world, that's why I just started my UA-cam-Channel where I'm posting cinematic travel movies! But it's just so hard to get any attention in this world full of unnecessary information...
indeed
You see how your Videos fall also in the categorie off "unnecesary information". Of course its nice to get attention, but if you do the Videos to be creative you should be fine
With "unnecessary information" I mean videos where you don't have any revenue. For example all those prankster-clips out there. You watch them and just loose your lifetime...
People watching my movies at least tell me that they feel inspired and I think, that's the reason why they aren't "unnecessary information".
You have 10,000 views in 2 month...What you have done and achieved so far is really good! Maybe stop seeking attention and focus on getting better is the way to go
I subscribed, looking forward for more of your videos :D
So what about when your brain recalls almost exclusively negative memories? My recall of pain and guilt and betrayal are razor sharp; my memories of joy, amusement, and levity come in hazy at best.
My mind does this too, lately i have been thinking about all those social "mistakes" i made and what the other people will think of me.You have to accept the pain that comes with these thoughts, concetrate on it,feel it in your body,but DONT think about it.Otherwise the same though pattern will play over and over again in your head and the pain will keep growing.You are not these thought you are merely the observer of the them!
I hope this will help you :)
I'm the same the only clear memories I have are either traumatic or depressing I know they covered this in a video but I can't recall which one.
This happens because your brain thinks recalling bad events improves your survival. You just have to meditate often to learn to control your thoughts. If you can't remember nice things, imagine them.
me too, crikey, what the heck is that
+BennieJackson I think it's basically because you haven't learnt to properly process trauma and painful emotions, and so they linger on in your subconscious. They'll keep resurfacing until you've managed to be present with the pain - your sustained conscious presence will resolve those past upsets. Which might sound simple in theory, but it does require a true willingness to drop any mental stories and simply meet the feelings that you've always unconsciously tried to repress.
Your voice gives me chills...
The animation is amazing in this video. The use of color is so cool.
I love how they depict emotions as colorful bubbles passing through quickly
Nice animation, but Alain seems to be telling us that it's ok to not be present because our edited version of the past is a more pleasant place to be. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rejecting the present is making us all dislocated and miserable. True presence is a calm, peaceful, meditative state. Eastern philosophers have studied this for millennia. Read Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now for a proper exploration of this.
That's my favourite book
I don't think that's what he was saying at all. I think he was trying to offer some explanation as to why it's difficult to stay in the present moment.
true, it's even the title of the video
These vids surely help me to be a more compassionate being as it highlights the difficulties I endure while living. & at the same time creating the awareness that typically all others are undergoing the same horrors. Armed w/ that understanding and perspective, it is so much easier to let people off the hook & better get on w/ my day & life.
Zen Buddhism focusses on living in the moment. Basically, to a zen buddhist, the past and future don't matter, and to him a cool breeze or a cold glass of water in the now are as gratifying as the most luxurious sports car. I'm not one for religions but that is a beautiful idea to me.
Don’t think that these Zen people are really living in the present moment. Just look at their robe. From where does it come from?
From a past tradition.
Every morning one has to chant the whole line of masters starting with Shakya mundi. What is it? Remembering the past.
And telling the old Zen stories of bygone times over and over again is clinging to the past.
Let those old masters rot in their graves. Be in the present moment.
How you sit, how you stand, how you walk, how you go to the toilet: that you can do by yourself . No need of an old Chinese master.
The video is basically "stop worrying about tomorrow". I already knew that. Thanks.
Wow. the illustration and the use of color reinforced this wise lesson in such a lovely, graphic way. I always look forward to your new content, but sometimes you all dazzle me.
I posted this masterful video to Mindful School's organization Facebook page today; many thanks for all you're doing!
"Quit. Don't quit. Noodles. Don't noodles. You are too concerned with what was and what will be. There's a saying: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That's why it is called present."
His voice makes me feel at ease
This was very insightful.
Thank you for the frequent reminders to have a sympathetic respect for myself and others.
I wish all these videos excisted when I was a kid
I understand you!
You can Still change. You are living in the past when you think you can't change. Live in the present. The present is full of possibilities.
"The best time to change was yesterday, the 2nd best time is today"
Brings everything right to the center of self.
Why doesn't the school of life make a meditation video ?
They actually have a few videos already, go ahead and check them out in their profile
This video makes me feel quite relieved, as someone who day dreams most of the time I feel less guilty about it now.
Through the advent of the Information age, it seems we have been given access to a stream of more stimuli than we could possibly ever take in.
That's true. I could be by myself but constantly getting some sort of information from a book, UA-cam or webpage.
Likewise. Alain has, at multiple points, advocated for just "putting everything down, and staring out the window for a while".
As someone who has tried that -- it really, really helps.
I very much agree with the "putting things down." I thoroughly believe that the earth would be a better place if everyone would just chill out and look out the window for a while. I feel like I grow a little bit more as a person when I just forget the endless hamster wheel of life, and just think about whatever comes to mind
This is one view that I have experienced and can wholeheartedly agree with. I have thought about this a lot of times myself.
"Nostalgia is the present enhanced by an editing machine."
Going to watch this when I take my first psychadelic
+prankworng Please. What do you know? :j He said psychedelic, not drug.
+Leo Valentine stop just stop drug are not weed ya it's not bad it can calm people down stop pain etc but what he sad is awful for your brain if you studied something you would now it stop highways connecting your brain but I mean your butt hurt so I don't care
i'm bascially the master of regretting the past and fearing the future. where i am now, where many of us are now, is a terrible time to be, and so i think many of us have now been made equal in wishing either for when things were better, or when things will be better again, so i think this will be a learning lesson for us all in a way of how to appreciate the present for the first time, or more than ever before. i hope i wrote that well apologies if that came across poorly :)
Amazing
@@Infinitians thanks
very original animation, I like it
Present is being in the moment, just as Love in the moment. I am this LOVE.
Dear School of Life, could you please explore the topic of "living in the Present" more deeply? As being torn between the Past and the Future seems to be a normal state of mind for most of us these days...
once again the school of life has come to me with a video at just the right time to help me answer a question in my own life
You know I really never type a comment but when I do
I do it twice
You know I never reply to people who think there clever.
But when I do
I do it thrice
You know I never really leave my sentences half finished, but when I do
In the Present You Tube has a need to present to us all what is really only necessary, having real messengers of Truth, with no motivation monetize so we can finally have missionaries instead of mercenaries who are not motivated by money, motivated not by gain & popularity, but by Love & Truth!
+The School Of Life something im very curious about. Could you guys make a video about the different trends we have in society, like for some period of time looking in a particular way or having specific tastes and opinions is considered socially better and after a short time those trends become obsolete so new trends arise. It might have to do with the collective unconscious, could you guys explain that? Thanks!
The problem you are referring to is a matter of individual differences and social classes. Keep in mind that India has over 56 distinct 'castes.' So, social classes is a maelstrom of horizontal and vertical groups, all of which change over time. There is a great deal of difference in each society. The strange thing is that members of each group act like their world is closed and dichotomize it into us and them or ingroup and outgroup, when in fact the number of different groups in each person's immediate geographical space is quite high.
All problems in life are fear. The fear of loosing of something you got attached to. Babies are gods as their mind has not got attached and hence they are joyful and playful. The moment we understand that one day we have to give up own body and there is nothing to loose then you get detached and you wont have fear. This comes with only with practice of meditation and you will start living in the present . Keep doing good deeds as what you give only comes back.
So how can one live in the present? What's the solution?
We all have an Inner-Self.It is the Inner-Self
which controls our Emotions,Behaviours,
Thoughts,etc.Through life we will face many
Challenges,Issues,etc.We must have control
of our Inner-Self to face the Challengers,Issues,etc.We must be Cool,
Calm and Collective.We must use Logic,
Reason,Intuition,Understanding,etc.
I have studied Psychology and Philosophy.
Remember the ALPHA is the OMEGA.
What's your opinion of the Myers-Briggs personality test?
sensors probably don't have a problem living in the present
Ayoub Minen That's what I'm thinking. When this channel talks about the human condition, it only relates to some of us in certain personality groupings.
And a lot of the videos seem to deal with more introverted types of problems, such as confindence, anxiety, or alienation.
TMakAlpaca a lot of T problems too
And intuitives probably relate a lot more to this channel videos. Sensors will find this too conceptual.
That explains why I find it so hard to pay attention. I always tell myself to listen more and to be more observant but it's easier said than done!
Why am I watching this on the toilet?
Whell... WHIEY NAWHT?!?!
Because Living in the present while taking a dump isn't super interessting ?
nahh taking a dump fells hella good tho
No U shitting on toilet
Because you are pooping in the present.
thank you for not disregarding your insights and giving value to them, till the extent of communicating so completely with artists that they were able to create art that perfectly aligns the words with the images, fully capturing the message, bringing us to drift away in our thoughts and converge with your words and pictures. Couldn't have absorbed it any better. thank you
Congratulations to the animator!
This may be an older video, but I had a message to leave... Your videos have helped me with so many problems and puzzles I've faced in life, from those of emotions and relationships, to questions about careers, to difficulty understanding philosophy. These videos put things in such a way that I would never have considered. They have helped clear up so many questions, but more importantly have broadened my view and made me a more thoughtful person so that I may begin to answer questions like them for myself (and maybe others) in the future. I want to express my sincere thanks and full support of this amazing school and all its members.
You guys just explains the problems where is solutions answer misleading
They have guided meditation videos.
It would honestly take longer than the normal TSOL video to cover that ground. The causes of unhappiness in the present are many and complex but one can use techniques to manage your thinking. Hint: look at meditation and mindfulness practices.
It isn't misleading, the video clearly explains why it's so hard to live in the present (just like the title states). It never claims to provide a solution. There is also no single solution to it. It's not that simple and everyone deals with it differently.
Really??
Akshay Meshram What do you mean really? Did you really expect someone to give you a clear cut solution for how to deal with this? Stop being so naive.
In addition to the messages, I really appreciate the creative work that goes into each video. They all have a distinct feel.
Why is it so hard to even live at all?
That is why the Buddha came here
We all WERE born with the natural ability to enjoy the present and to be in alignment with ourselves. As kids we could easily make new friends carelessly run around the school yard and "live the moment" and "be in the present" with our friends. The conditioning we go through however disconnected us from the present and the constant clock-watching forcing us into a non-existing future. We can reconnect and regain our ability to being in the present (our natural state) through consciousness and self observation.
School of life, why don't you ever make a video on racial issues? We need your insight into such a complex issue!
No - that would lessen the scope of the channel. Plus it isn't complex at all. People evolved to live in small groups related by blood and generally like people that are like themselves. Tribalism / fear / stereotyping / violence etc. all stem from our instincts to distrust unrelated people.
+dothedeed It wouldn't lessen the scope of the channel as the channel is designed to provide knowledge and comfort to those finding life difficult. The thinking behind ingroups and outgroups has ramifications that Philosophy can address, especially if it can provide coping strategies, if not solutions.
+dothedeed if the problem is so easily solved like you say, why can't we solve these same social problems we have now?
daniel henderson No where did I mention anything about a solution. My comment was about the origin of prejudice. The simple fact is that it will not go anywhere until there's a greater cost to being prejudiced than there are rewards.
Jonathan Beckinham Very true. But, all that means is the way we define "us" vs the outsiders has changed. Nationalism / religion, class etc are all stories we tell each other to create a boundary that defines the "us" in a larger sense than blood or other physical traits. There are still outsiders, the "them". And as long as there are "those people", people not included in the "we" or "us" then there will still be prejudice.
I live in the moment really dont think about my past or future too much!! I cant plan anything and have a hard time moveing my life forward a healthy balance is needed !!!
School of life, why don't you like music (as a topic)
because it distracts you from the actual content
hehe I meant music as a topic
See their videos about art (visual art that is) and you'd understand.
In short: they have pretty utilitarian approach to art. And personally I love them dearly for that.
They appreciate good music, though, there's a whole room with CDs at the guest house they run.
+The School of Life please don't put music in your vids.They are a major distraction.....
I've learned to LISTEN to what people are saying to you, I've literally used every piece of good advice or even idiom I was given, as well as any useful actions people, esp loved ones, have given. Good advice and behavior sticks to your brain like glue and becomes your own if you embrace it.
Can someone tell me the points this video was making? I got lost.
+acct137 very accurate summary
My mind went elsewhere. I missed the 2nd half of the video.
The first minute in, the video was setting up imagery of people being physically someplace but their mind getting distracted, i.e. sitting at the beach but thinking about your job. Important points throughout the video:
1. Your mind is constantly traveling between the future and the past, but rarely ever is your mind fully in the present.
2. You enjoy moments more when they become a memory rather than when you're actually going through it; mostly because your brain has the ability to edit how you remember that day and it recalls the best parts of it and puts emphasis on it instead of the mundane parts, i.e. nostalgia.
3. Sheer anxiety can hinder enjoyment (i.e. receiving opportunity for job promotion but being afraid of the chance of rejection); we worry about the outcomes of situations and sometimes it overcomes the possible happiness that the situation can bring. This is natural in human beings.
4. Other people experience "not being in the moment" as well. For example, when you're speaking to someone and they seem distant or worried, their minds are probably elsewhere. They too will remember the moment differently than how it actually went.
5. We need to learn how to counteract this disloyalty of our brains and appreciate the moments we live through as and when they come. A moment only comes once and then it's stored in your memory forever. Make sure to enjoy it live.
Paola Thank you maraming salamat
Eckhart Tolle brought me here. Very powerful teachings on living in the present :)
I catch my mind wondering even while watching the video. lul
Ive always had this problem, happy to know that especially you have picked up this problem too. Trying to live in the moment is one of the hardest tasks I ever put on myself. But when it works (when meditating for instance) it is one of the best experiences I will have in the week.
Got to restart the video. I was lost in thought.
there have been moments where worrying about a future situation has helped me be prepared for that situation(like a job interview). worrying have me an edge.
So how do we live in the moment? and why is it so hard for you to capitalize your titles properly?
Second sentence, "and" should be capitalized. Also it is unnecessary.
+soslothful if you look at the words capitalized i think it is for ease of reading, so people who quickly glance can see the point of the topic without reading all the conjuctions. Its quite intelligent actually.
On the contrary, it is capitalised properly; it's standard practice not to capitalise conjunctions when typing titles.
Mindfulness practice & meditation
Fall
well I'll be damned, the "it" and the "is" threw me off entirely but if they're no tconjuctions then you're right and so is the title!
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle focused heavily on living in the present and it has honestly cured me of my anxiety and depression
*Money is root of all evil and people must be clouded ;) ;)*
I don't think money is the root of all evil. I think the human condition is the root of all evil. On the flipside, it is also the root of all good (concerning humans anyway).
*the love of money
The love of money
Money substitues love, so we marry money, not what we perceive the loving marriage as loving couples, it is beginning of facing problem when they are living under same roof together. do you agree?
What is love though? A currency? A value? Human creation to explain mating?
It is surely very difficult to live in the present,with all the worries and anxiety. Today is important,tomorrow soon will be.And then all becomes memory .