ABSTRACT
Many of us have an emotional tendency, however slight or pronounced, to feel out of sorts in some fashion. The default position for some people is sadness; for others, it’s anxiety. You may have made many attempts to manage your moods, with varying degrees of success. As you grow older, the more important—and beneficial—it becomes to try to live in the present moment rather than dwelling in the past or projecting into the future. A strategy for planning your days is described in detail and recommended as a preventive measure against depression. Exercises in rhythmic breathing and creative imagery are presented as simple tools to calm anxiety. When you focus on life right now, you mobilize your senses and your basic skills to improve your emotional equilibrium—with no side effects. When you were a young child you were very good at living in the moment. Now you can come full circle and do it purposefully.
