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Ask a Luminary

“I’ve read a lot about living in the present moment, but yet I find myself in the past or the future most of the time, trapped in drama. How does one actually stay IN the present moment? Any hints on tangible things I can do?” ~ Elena, Anchorage, AK

Dear Elena,

The first step to create any change is to take 100% responsibility for all areas of your life.

I notice that in the question, you say that you are “trapped in drama”. I understand what you mean, but your language patterns shape your destiny, so consider that you are responsible for the drama and in turn you can choose to escape it. Because reality is nothing more than what we make it out to be in our minds.

To stay present, practice appreciating everything around you. It could be saying something like “I really appreciate the people that laid the tar on this road, it must have taken so much work.”

Say it out loud and put a smile on your face. By doing so, you will increase dopamine levels in your brain, bring joy into the moment and be more present to the value of every experience.

Akshay Nanavati

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I am a Marine Corps Veteran, a speaker, an explorer, an entrepreneur and a success coach. After recovering from a life of drugs in high school, I enlisted in the US Marines despite being told by two separate doctors that I would not be able to survive boot camp because of a debilitating medical condition called Thallasemia.

During my six years in the Marines, I earned a bachelors degree in history and philosophy, a masters degree in journalism from the prestigious S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and I spent 7 months fighting the war in Iraq as a non-commissioned officer.

In my spare time, I pushed the limits of my fears in the outdoors. I have climbed mountains in the Himalayas, Africa, Bolivia, Alaska and the Cascades. I have been skydiving, scuba diving, caving, rock climbing, ice climbing, ice diving and mountain biking. In May of this year, I spent one month skiing across the second largest icecap in the world in Greenland. In temperatures as low as -40 degrees, I dragged a sled weighing 190 pounds across 350 miles.

Since then I have started two businesses: an adventure company and Human Potential Development LLC, where I help others live every day with passion and purpose through coaching, public speaking and transformational workshops. I am also a trained success coach by the ICF accredited coach training program.

While running my two businesses, I continue to explore the most hostile environments on the planet and share the wisdom I have gained from a life on the edge with others so that they too can cross their icecaps and reach their summits.

For more information, please visit existing2living.com

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