You have a rewarding career and a network of beautiful people who want to rejoice in your life. As you walk out to your car to officially kick off the fun, a giddy thrill washes over you.

But as you click the seatbelt into place, rather than sitting in awe of how lucky you are, a list of concerns begins worming its way into your consciousness: “I need gas, but the conveniently located gas station charges more than others . . . I hope it’s not a surprise party . . . Maybe I should get the beverages before going home . . . I haven’t been to the gym all week . . . Did I pay the electric bill?” And so it goes.

Here are 10 strategies to help you effectively enjoy the present:

1

Cure your destination disease. Live more for today, less for tomorrow, and never about yesterday. How? You might have to repeatedly remind yourself that yesterday is gone forever, yet we perpetually have to deal with now, so why not live it? And what if tomorrow never occurs? If tomorrow never comes, would you be satisfied with the way today ended?

2

Stop living your life 30 minutes ahead. How many times— when you are eating lunch, taking a break, or having dinner with your family— are you thinking about what you have to do after the meal? On too many occasions, we are living our life ahead of where we are now.

3

Live your life. Our lives are sometimes in the fast lane with no exit ramp in sight. We end up there because everyone else is speeding toward his or her definition of success and we haven’t learned that instead of keeping up with the Joneses, we need to bring them down to our level. Live your life based on your aspirations.

4

Stop comparing yourself to others. Comparison prohibits you from seeing your uniqueness. Never be content with someone else’s definition of you. We waste more time and encounter more bumps in the road when we let someone else make us feel inferior without our consent.

5

Laugh more! Don’t put your umbrella up until it rains. Worry restricts your ability to think and act effectively, and it forces you to mortgage fear and anxiety about something that may never occur. Laughter is the opposite. When you laugh, you’re living almost completely in the moment, and it’s one of the best feelings you can have.

6

Always do what is right. When you come to the fork in the road, always turn right. How do you know you should turn right? Simple: Whenever you go right, you can’t go wrong. The ride is easier when you make principled decisions.

7

No one can ruin your day without your permission. As much as we cannot control in life—our genes, our past, and what has led up to today—there is much control we may take upon ourselves. Life picks on everyone, so don’t take it personally. When we take misfortune personally, we tend to obsess, giving a legacy to something that may make you a day poorer in life.

8

Abundance is the result of appreciation, not accumulation. By always chasing after something else, you are never really appreciating what you already have right now.

9

Assume there will be detours. When was the last time you grew as an individual? Chances are, it was during a time when you were challenged the most. Maturity, completeness, and contentment are at stake when you face problems. Challenges will help you grow.

10

Don’t drive straight through without stopping. It is not how you start in life and it is not how you finish. The true joy of life is in the trip, so enjoy the ride!