After once seeing a man on television BASE jump from a skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur, I realized the risks one seeks out can be explained by their general perspective on life. For this particular adrenaline junkie, the potentially fatal act of challenging gravity provides more than just a 10 second high. The weightless freefall represents a way of life that many thrill seekers adhere to adamantly.

These types of people live their lives as if they could die tomorrow. Though most have jobs and families, bills to pay and other obligations, they live for the moments that make them feel alive and complete.

Many people in today’s society would disregard such dangerous behavior as nothing short of an irresponsible death wish. As Americans, some tend to believe that the core purpose in life is to work hard in order to survive and thrive in a consumerist culture. Meanwhile they’ve sacrificed the basic human liberties to slow down and enjoy life for what it is: a personal journey of self-discovery and fulfillment.

Living for the moment is a valuable concept that doesn’t receive enough credit or respect, but is actually a liberating method of living. The notion hinges on the understanding that life is short, and people need make the most of their time while they still have it. But there seems to be difficulty maintaining a balance between personal enjoyment and so called responsible living. One can fully explore the joy of living for the moment once they overcome several obstacles.

Your Career Is Important, But…

As working class citizens, Americans often struggle to loosen up and not take life too seriously. We live in a society that defines self-worth by monetary standards, and thus, it can become difficult to differentiate who you are from what you do. While professional success is worth striving for, too much time is spent on trying to achieve financial wealth.

We shouldn’t lose ourselves in our work. It’s ok to be proud of the skills and knowledge you have. However, our careers should only be part of what makes us feel good about ourselves. If we continue to let our careers drive what we do and where we go in life, we surrender to a manufactured way of living as opposed to creating new and exciting experiences for ourselves.

Organized Chaos Spawns Life

The “fly by the seat of your pants” mentality is commonly feared as a risky road of uncertainty. Being spontaneous suggests a thought or idea that is not well planned or constructed and acted upon without consideration of the outcome. Being creatures of habit and structure, people rely heavily upon order and reject activities based on random whims.

Stepping outside of that comfort zone is essential. Breaking your routine every now and then to do something fun is a fantastic way to step back from life and bask in a carefree state. By deciding to let go, the moment will feel far more special than if it had been planned because the rewards were unprecedented. For the most part, you’ll have a greater appreciation for the times spent on yourself because the ability to throw caution to the wind can be a freeing experience. Life can be organized and sporadic at the same time.

Slowing Down Life’s Pace

Let the pace life sets for you tick to its own stopwatch. In your frantic rush to get things done quickly, you’ll miss out on the smaller moments that often have the most profound impact. Take a minute or two to sit back and breathe. Let time stand still, don’t take the one second of free time in your day for granted.

Enjoy being alone, listening to the sounds of silence, feeling your heart beat steadily. You’ll never truly understand the positive calming effect that 5 minutes can have on the rest of your day until you allow yourself to soak it in. Later, when you’re racing the clock for a deadline at work or running errands in rush hour traffic, you’ll cherish that brief moment of serenity.

A relatively broad concept, living for the moment is what you make of it. The principle here is that the events that comprise a lifetime are fleeting , and we may miss out on some of the most beautiful of life’s offerings should we choose to ignore them. There’s so much life to live outside of the office or the home. Cliché’s exist because more often than not, they hold a significant degree of truth and logic.

Life is in fact short, so why rush it?

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