My Inquiry question this semester is “What does it mean to ‘live in the moment,’ and how can we actively focus on embracing the little things in life? I look forward to discovering more about this complex topic over the next couple of months!
Research Step 1: How does our relationship with time, (past regrets and future anxieties) affect our ability to be present?
This sub-question is a very good question to ask when faced with a topic regarding living in the moment. Many people pay so much attention to things that are not worth worrying over, which ends up consuming a considerable amount of time. When we guide our attention to things that are irrelevant to us in the moment, we end up diminishing our time we have in the present, leading us to be preoccupied with various distracting factors. Just this alone can obstruct our ability to slow down, and appreciate what we have in the now. I can connect with this personally as I sometimes overthink, and pay attention to things that are pointless, especially in the given time. Learning about this matter even further will be super interesting, and I’m excited to dissect this subject matter in blog posts to come!
Research Step 2: How could practicing gratitude improve our understanding of what’s “ordinary” in day-to-day life?
The simple act of practicing gratitude can definitely change our perception of what’s “ordinary in day-to-day life. As much as people try to deny it, we all take things for granted sometimes. You might think that living in a house or having a clean water supply is “normal,” but some people would do anything to have a roof over their head and have access to water. Since we know so many people who have those two necessities, we come to think of it as ordinary. Especially with how fast the pace of life is, we rarely slow down to stop and appreciate the things we have. Humans always want more in life, no matter what they currently have. Striving for more is just in our nature. What this question will uncover, is some ways people can try to collectively slow down and appreciate what we have along with the amazing people we love to support us, no matter the circumstance. I’m very excited to discover more about this fascinating question!
Research Step 3: Does being fully present strengthen our relationships? If yes, how does presence manifest itself in deep connections with other people?
This will be my last and concluding sub-question. In this day and age it is difficult to find a deep connection with others, especially with social media in the picture. With the help of mindfulness and gratitude, we can learn how to fully immerse ourselves in the presence, making it easier to connect with people on a deeper level. Having the ability to connect with others on a personal level creates tighter bonds, strengthening the overall relationship. Digging deeper into this question will reveal how to improve relationships by simply living in the moment, with no distractions. I look forward to learning more about this, and will try to implement some of the educational information in my own friendships.
These three sub-topic questions provide me with more information for my overall Inquiry question as they allow me to dive deeper into this complex subject-matter.
Thank you very much for reading my blog post, I hope you obtained some new information!
–Vanessa Vukovic
Sources:
(1) Joshi, D. (2024, November). Understanding Living in the Moment: Meaning & Relevance. EmbodiedMoments. https://embodiedmoments.com/articles/understanding-living-in-the-moment-meaning-relevance/
(2) Davenport, B. (2021, April 16). Living In The Moment (7 Steps To Live In The Present + Exercises). Mindful Zen. https://mindfulzen.co/living-in-the-moment/
(3) Sharpe, R. (2025, March 22). Live In the Moment: 10 Ways to Live In the Present. Declutterthemind.com; Declutter The Mind. https://declutterthemind.com/blog/live-in-the-moment
(4) Abhi Ojas. (2024, December 18). The Power of Living in the Moment: How Being Present Transforms Your Life. Medium; Know Thyself, Heal Thyself. https://medium.com/know-thyself-heal-thyself/the-power-of-living-in-the-moment-how-being-present-transforms-your-life-1e1225911be9
(5) Ferguson, S. (2022, September 12). Living in the moment: 7 tips for being more present. Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/blog/what-it-really-means-to-be-in-the-present-moment