Over the past couple of years, I’ve been working towards increased mindfulness in my everyday life. The journey began when I quite randomly saw a book on the shelf at the bookstore titled The Power of Kindness, which changed my life and my relationships. Since then I’ve eagerly read dozens of related books, including many from the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. The journey has radically changed my perspective on many things in life, with finance being one of them. If you knew me in person, always in blue jeans, boots and a cowboy hat, I likely wouldn’t be someone you envisioned meditating. So it’s been quite a powerful and life-changing journey for myself.
In one of Thich Nhat Hanh’s books, he writes that “we are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living.” The line struck me, as I know this has been something I’ve struggled with. It’s quite easy to get caught up in always thinking about the future, about a FIRE date, about the life you’ll lead once you’re retired. It’s easy to get in a mindset of “I’ll grin and bear it these next XX years, and then I can finally do the things I want to do.” Unfortunately, we’re so focused on preparing for the future that we are unable to fully appreciate the present.
This post isn’t meant to accuse anyone of this mindset (other than my former self, which I’m working on). There are many, many Mustachians who are incredibly mindful and an inspiration to myself. It’s simply intended to serve as a reminder that even though we all have our goals and dreams for the future, today has the opportunity to be every bit as joyful as the day that we reach FIRE. It’s simply a matter of being truly present in each moment—a task much easier said than done, I’ve learned.
If anyone has any tips for living more mindfully and intentionally, any book recommendations, any stories, I’d love to hear them.
