LIVING MOMENT BY MOMENT

"There is no path that leads to happiness. The path itself is happiness," says Buddha... The path rises, falls, challenges, nurtures, and matures. With the wisdom of deep love, it brings not pleasure but true happiness. To experience the subtlety of flow, one must be present in the moment.

But first, what does it mean to stay in the moment? It is the state of deep absorption and awareness—whether you're focused on a task, lost in the joy of dancing, or singing with your heart. In fact, staying in the moment is always possible. Of course, it does not mean being a constant butterfly of happiness. It is certainly not a pleasure-driven state.

Neuroscientists summarize the difference between pleasure and happiness as follows:

• Pleasure is short-lived, a physical experience, centered on receiving, experienced alone, excessive indulgence leads to addiction, and it can be attained through substances.

• Happiness, on the other hand, is long-lasting, a spiritual and mental experience, centered on giving, shared within a social group, cannot be attained through material things, and unlike pleasure, its abundance does not lead to addiction—it is productive and constructive.

The neurotransmitter difference in the nervous system is that pleasure releases dopamine, while happiness releases serotonin. Interestingly, dopamine suppresses serotonin. In other words, chasing pleasure reduces happiness.

Recently, we have witnessed how consumption-driven societies—centered around eating, drinking, traveling, and working excessively to afford these—have become so pleasure-focused and yet so unhappy. However, when we move through life feeling, sensing, and becoming aware of the moment, we find greater fulfillment and peace. And then happiness spreads through our bodies. But to achieve all of this, there must be a sense of virtue in our hearts. The virtues that warm our souls reflect upon our societal values.

So, whatever you are doing right now, let’s live this moment together...

A Simple Morning Practice

You wake up before dawn. Before getting out of bed, take just two minutes for a breathing exercise: Inhale for four seconds, hold for four seconds, then exhale for eight seconds. Breath is the beginning and sustenance of life. Observe it—feel how it moves through your body, reaching even the tips of your fingers... Soon, a new day will begin. It will never be the same as yesterday. No two moments are ever identical.

The Native Americans say, "You can never bathe in the same river twice." Not only rivers, but time itself flows onward. Even within this moment, thousands of changes are occurring in our bodies. With each heartbeat, red blood cells and hormones travel to unknown destinations. And what about the events unfolding beyond our awareness? How many babies were just born? How many lives ended at this very moment? Even our planet has traveled about 28 kilometers per minute—so is it even possible to speak of the "same moment"?

I still remember a note from my elementary school book: "Minutes are like gold bars; do not let a single one slip away."

Let's return to our morning… Stretch your body gently—without rushing. Feel every muscle. Just for one minute. Now, get up and look at the new day. Isn't it so peaceful? Trees continue their existence without resentment, whether faced with wind or rain. Isn’t that fascinating?

A Small But Powerful Ritual

Splash cold water on your face—wake up! Now look into your own eyes in the mirror… Smile. Embrace yourself with love. Or… do you not love the one in the mirror? Is this the time to dwell on such thoughts?

"I must hurry to work!"

No. Pause.

If you don't love yourself, you cannot truly love your work or others. We are who we are—our choices, rights, wrongs, strengths, and weaknesses. And it is never too late to become the person we want to be. But let’s leave that for later in the day. For now, take a deep breath with the possibility of self-love in your heart and prepare for the day ahead.

Coffee? Breakfast? No rush. First, a deep breath. Taste it as if for the first time. Eat slowly—savor each bite. Can you distinguish the flavors? Now, look outside and give thanks for the fresh air.

I already feel peaceful.

Even the morning rush—getting the kids ready, household chores—it all gets done somehow.

But then… the traffic, the chaos. Do you feel anger rising? Pause.

No matter the situation, managing our anger is essential. The way we react reflects our virtues and level of maturity. This is something we should have learned in childhood. If a person or situation makes us angry, it means they are controlling us.

When our emotions are hijacked, our thoughts, body, and life become prisoners. After all, life is merely a reflection of our thoughts and emotions.

How to Overcome Anger?

Take a deep breath (even if you feel too angry to do so). Observe your body. What do you feel? What is happening from your head down to your arms, organs, legs? Slowly, you start to relax.

And then… that moment.

If you can recognize it, the wisdom of truth will calm you, bringing peace to your body. Can you see it?

Anger comes from within us. Whatever happened outside, happened. What can we change? Our own response. Now, enjoy the clarity of finding the best solution once you’ve calmed down.

Wisdom, the Soul, and the True Self

Truth, soul wisdom, true self… all are parts of the unconscious mind. Yet, in our modern lives, our intuition—the very voice of this wisdom—has been lost, as we view everything through the lens of logic.

To hear it again, we must learn to listen—and that is possible only by being present in the moment or through meditation.

Why? Because our minds, shaped by past fears and experiences, try to protect us. Only when it quiets down can we truly hear ourselves.

And those moments are priceless.

Those who reach them see their wishes come true because the heart's energy is far stronger than the brain's. What we feel is more important than what we think. If fear, hopelessness, and negativity dominate, they will only grow stronger.

And Now, Night Falls…

Does anyone here dislike the dark?

Yes, light shows us the way—but darkness reveals the stars. The darkest nights give birth to the brightest stars.

For us, too, it is the best time to confront and transform our own darkness.

Before sleep, ask yourself:

"Did I do my best today—for myself and the world?"

Listen to the voice of silence. Acceptance is the first step. Become an observer during meditation—detached, without judgment. Over time, you will notice your transformation.

Because we know: Every pain, every joy will pass. Every winter gives way to spring. Just because the winter was harsh, does the tree stop budding?

Life flows within its eternal cycle.

The Earth has existed for four billion years, yet we will only live for a hundred at most.

Since we are the creators of our reality, let’s choose peace and happiness in every moment.

Not the past, not the future…

Only now.

Only this moment.

Because life exists in the flow of time. ✨