Rules of Thinking, The

RULE 20

Be in the present

Where do you tend to live – past, present or future? Most of us have a tendency towards one or the other, and they all have their pros and cons. Even if you are inclined to live in the present, however, you tend to do it unconsciously most of the time.

There’s a good deal of research to show that if you practise what is known as ‘mindfulness’ it can reduce anxiety, stress and depression. In part this is because you are more likely to become aware of these feelings sooner so you can address them before they become entrenched. Mindfulness in its basic form is an exercise you set aside some time each day to do. However the greatest benefit is that – like other thinking styles – the more you do it, the more of a habit ...