--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Make the present moment your friend…" description: "\"“Make the present moment your friend rather than your enemy. Because many people live habitually as if the present moment were an obstacle that they ne..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/dan-harris-7769_friendship_make-the-present-moment-your-friend-rath_834559.png" --- # Make the present moment your friend rather than your… ![“Make the present moment your friend rather than your enemy. Because many people live habitually as if the present moment were an obstacle that they need to overcome in order to get to the next moment. And imagine living your whole life like that, where always this moment is never quite right, not…” quote by Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/dan-harris-7769_friendship_make-the-present-moment-your-friend-rath_834559.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/dan-harris-7769_friendship_make-the-present-moment-your-friend-rath_834559.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e88/dan-harris-7769_friendship_make-the-present-moment-your-friend-rath_834559.png) > ““Make the present moment your friend rather than your enemy. Because many people live habitually as if the present moment were an obstacle that they need to overcome in order to get to the next moment. And imagine living your whole life like that, where always this moment is never quite right, not good enough because you need to get to the next one. That is continuous stress.”” [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living in the present reduces stress and improves well‑being, while treating it as an obstacle creates constant anxiety. **In simple terms:** Treat now as friend, not foe. Key Takeaway Embrace the present. Themes mindfulness stress reduction habit Mood calm reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - daily work - relationships - health routines - creative projects Key Concepts psychology present‑moment awareness Questions to Reflect On - How can you notice when you view the present as a hurdle? - What small practice can turn the present into an ally? A Different Perspective It can be hard to shift ingrained habits of future‑orientation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Continuous Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continuous-stress-588817/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) [Habitually Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habitually-present-588818/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Moment Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment-friend-429302/) [Present moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-moment/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Whole life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-life/) ## Related quotes > [“Make the present moment your friend rather than your enemy. Because many people live habitually as if the present moment were an obstacle that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/make-the-present-moment-your-friend-rather-than-your-enemy-because-2/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [Many people live habitually as if the present moment were an obstacle that they need to overcome in order to get to the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/many-people-live-habitually-as-if-the-present-moment-were-an-obstacle/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [I have never appreciated a quiet moment with a friend as much, a quiet moment with a book and I think part of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candice-bergen/i-have-never-appreciated-a-quiet-moment-with-a-friend-as-much-a-quiet/) [Candice Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candice-bergen/) > [Oh, if I had had a friend at this moment, a friend in an attic room, dreaming by candlelight and with a violin lying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/oh-if-i-had-had-a-friend-at-this-moment-a-friend-in-an-attic-room/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The decision to make the present moment into your friend is the end of ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-decision-to-make-the-present-moment-into-your-friend-is-the-end/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [The moment you have a friend talking with them then next talking about you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike/the-moment-you-have-a-friend-talking-with-them-then-next-talking/) [Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike/) > [That akward moment when your friend is getting yelled at right infront of you and your just sitting there petting their dog or talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-akward-moment-when-your-friend-is-getting-yelled-at-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That awkward moment when you and your friend says see ya later, then you two go off in the same direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/that-awkward-moment-when-you-and-your-friend-says-see-ya-later-then/) [Author Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/author-name/) > [That Awkward moment when your friend uploaded a picture you took with 'em and you didn't look Good at all…aaaauuuuugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-d-r-l-testament/that-awkward-moment-when-your-friend-uploaded-a-picture-you-took-with/) [Junior Dè Rèál Testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junior-d-r-l-testament/) > [That awkward moment when you and your friend walk off in the same direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-awkward-moment-when-you-and-your-friend-walk-off-in-the-same/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That epic moment when you and your friend had an unplanned night out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shennon-fabiano/that-epic-moment-when-you-and-your-friend-had-an-unplanned-night-out/) [Shennon Fabiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shennon-fabiano/) > [Awkward moment when your friend is using Facebook & you are standing behind, you realize that your friend is actually reading your status &…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frhnlead/awkward-moment-when-your-friend-is-using-facebook-you-are-standing/) [FRHnLEAD](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frhnlead/) > [That awkward moment when you see a friend across the parking lot and flip them the bird.. only to realize that its a total…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-awkward-moment-when-you-see-a-friend-across-the-parking-lot-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The moment where you give your friend the what the f-ck is this look during a test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orebela-gbenga/the-moment-where-you-give-your-friend-the-what-the-f-ck-is-this-look/) [Orebela Gbenga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orebela-gbenga/) > [That joyful moment when you and your friend get the same grade as you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/that-joyful-moment-when-you-and-your-friend-get-the-same-grade-as-you/) [Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/) ## More by Dan Harris > [“Imagine a world where people were 10% happier and less reactive. Marriage, parenting, road rage, politics - all would be improved upon. Public health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/imagine-a-world-where-people-were-10-happier-and-less-reactive/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“retreat, with nothing to look forward to, nowhere to be, nothing to do, we are forced to confront the “wound of existence” head-on, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/retreat-with-nothing-to-look-forward-to-nowhere-to-be-nothing-to-do/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“It’s like we’ve been enchanted,” he says. “We’ve been put under a spell—believing that this or that is going to be the source of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/it-s-like-we-ve-been-enchanted-he-says-we-ve-been-put-under-a-spell/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [Prepare like no other, know that there was nothing left for you to do when it's all said and done. This way a loss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/prepare-like-no-other-know-that-there-was-nothing-left-for-you-to-do/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“Picture the mind like a waterfall, they said: the water is the torrent of thoughts and emotions; mindfulness is the space behind the waterfall.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/picture-the-mind-like-a-waterfall-they-said-the-water-is-the-torrent/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“They had a term, too, for that thing I did where something would bother me and I would immediately project forward to an unpleasant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/they-had-a-term-too-for-that-thing-i-did-where-something-would-bother/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“patients saw their health improve if they did volunteer work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/patients-saw-their-health-improve-if-they-did-volunteer-work/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“Marturano recommended something radical: do only one thing at a time. When you’re on the phone, be on the phone. When you’re in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/marturano-recommended-something-radical-do-only-one-thing-at-a-time/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“I’m thinking: Yes, right—there is a point to sitting around all day with your eyes closed: to gain some control over the mind, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/i-m-thinking-yes-right-there-is-a-point-to-sitting-around-all-day/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“in our seat, every bite of food, every pleasant daydream—is designed to avoid pain or seek pleasure. But if we can drop all that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/in-our-seat-every-bite-of-food-every-pleasant-daydream-is-designed-to/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [Meditation is just simple brain exercise. I exercise and this made sense to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/meditation-is-just-simple-brain-exercise-i-exercise-and-this-made/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“Perhaps the most meaningful exchange I had on the subject was a completely random discussion with my uncle Martin at my parents’ annual summer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/perhaps-the-most-meaningful-exchange-i-had-on-the-subject-was-a/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“While I may not have been physically addicted, I was certainly psychologically hooked. I missed getting high so badly that it was the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harris/while-i-may-not-have-been-physically-addicted-i-was-certainly/) [Dan Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harris/) > [“was elated and relieved, light-headed with glee. 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Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) [Maureen Andeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-andeson/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Friends are like stars you can't always see them, but you know they're there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknwon/friends-are-like-stars-you-can-t-always-see-them-but-you-know-they-re/) [Unknwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknwon/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [If you love some one for who they are not for there body or how many friend so when you say I love you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/if-you-love-some-one-for-who-they-are-not-for-there-body-or-how-many/) [Unknow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknow/) > [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. She, of all of my friends, had seen the parade of sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/but-my-best-friend-from-college-was-silent-for-a-long-time-she-of-all/) [Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/) > [You smile upon your friend to-day, To-day his ills are over; You hearken to the lover's say, And happy is the lover. 'Tis late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-smile-upon-your-friend-to-day-to-day-his-ills-are-over-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“way. A true friend isn't the one that agrees with everything you say or do. 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