There are many times when I find myself struggling to be present in the moment. And I know I'm not alone in that particular exercise. Even as I write this, I'm carefully picking my words, not just for audience appeal, but rather to control my perception of how I view being present. For example, in the second sentence, I thought first to write it as, 'And I know I'm not alone in that particular battle.' But then I immediately changed it from 'battle' to 'exercise'. I do this because if everything I bump up against or struggle with is viewed as a problem to be dealt with, then life is going to eat me alive and spit out my brittle bones.
Instead I try to view this as an exercise in honing and strengthening my skills. Just as we need to feed and exercise our bodies to keep them healthy and agile, we also need to feed and exercise our minds for the exact same reasons. In this physical realm in which we live, our bodies are constantly changing. We are aging, growing muscle, losing skin cells, reacting to our environments, changing our eating habits and sleep cycles...we are constantly in motion and in transit from one action to another. We are not stagnant creatures. Everything in this physical realm is changing and impermanent.
Our minds, not just our physical brain but our gut and intuition as well, play a critical role in adapting to these changes in our physical and emotional experiences. We need to keep our minds healthy and agile to be able to navigate these journeys we take and help us to understand them, experience them, react when appropriate and sometimes change our perception of it, if needed.
So many people, me included at times, don't understand or are unwilling to accept this concept of the impermanence of life. They try to keep things the same, in alignment with how it's always been...how it's most comfortable or most tolerable for them. They accept that their physical bodies are changing, but yet they struggle to accept the premise that their beliefs and perceptions (which are a result of their physical experiences) need to grow and change as well. Being unable or unwilling to accept this idea, is the equivalent of standing in the middle of a highway during rush hour and not expecting to get hit. I mean, you can probably stave off the flow of traffic for a little while but eventually you're gonna come nose to grill with a big truck who is going to need you to move or get run over.
Thinking that you can continue to experience this journey, from the same vantage point, repeating the same habits and choosing not to acknowledge or learn from the change, is just as dangerous. For me, that big-ass truck is the future. It's worrying about how the decisions I'm making now will effect my future. Am I making decisions based on relationships or the lack thereof? Am I taking that exciting 'Leap of Faith' or am I just being reckless? I am the only one who can answer those questions...and that's assuming they even need to be answered at all.
The future, like the past, does not exist. Let me repeat that because I love the way it sounds...the future, like the past, does NOT exist. You can say that one existed at a point in time, or that one may or may not exist in the future, but it does not exist NOW. Now is the most important thing to focus on. So here is where the key lies...remember me mentioning healthy minds? A healthy mind is the key to the present. A healthy mind helps to keep a healthy body, which in turn, helps maintain balance between the two. And a healthy mind is adaptable. It helps to interpret what you see and feel. It creates and maintains your perspective of these experiences. Healthy mind = healthy perspective.
I mentioned earlier that I chose my words carefully in order to control my perspective of the present. For one, I believe that the impact of words extends well beyond the reactions of the reader/listener, in that they have a direct impact on the author of those words as well. Whether spoken or written, words themselves carry the energy of intent. That's a pretty powerful thing, right? THAT is a perspective that I want to foster in the world! And when I'm able to keep a healthy perspective of my situation, such as being open to change and new possibilities, being patient and knowing that what's coming needs me to experience now first, and listening to logic AND gut instinct which will always lead me forward, then I am acting in the present. I am mindfully acting in now.
And when I'm acting mindfully, neither the past nor the future is at stake here. There are no consequences for the decisions or actions I take today. There are only future journeys and experiences to have. More chances to explore and learn about my life and more opportunities to shape and build upon. That is what I've chosen to make 'now' about for me.
Hopefully, I was able to connect a few of those dots successfully. My friends understand and mostly tolerate my exceptional ability to ramble on so...here's to hopefully coming back full circle on this topic...lol
Am I always successful in acting mindfully and staying in the moment? Absolutely....not. My experiences and circumstances change daily (there's that word again), and therefore I am constantly changing my reactions and actions to adapt to each journey. And sometimes I'm like that dog trying to carry a 5 foot stick through a 3 foot opening. I'm banging my head a few times before I realize somethings not fitting here.
That's when you realize you need to go back to basics. That's where you say WTF, then you pause, maybe take a step back, breath deeply and release it slowly, and then get perspective on where you are. Some people call it getting back to basics but I prefer to think of it as the WTF Rule. You know us December women...mouths like drunken sailors ;)
I'm no expert on this matter, but the trick for me is just keeping the past and the future out of the equation. If I am mindful of where I am in the moment, physically and emotionally, than I am better able to hear and interpret the signals that my mind and body are sending me. And believe me, they are talking to me...in fact I'm positive they've screamed at me a few times too. We have a bit of a learning curve at times but we are working on it!
Everyone has their own journeys to make. And I believe it is important to consider planning for the future...yours and for those you love. But when those planning instincts start dominating your focus and eventually clouding your perspective, that's when you start living outside of the present. That's when trouble ensues. There is some great information out there on finding 'now' and mindfulness and a lot of inspirational stories to be told; a few of which I hope to share with you in the future.
But for now, I hope that you will take the time to consider your own unique perspective. Stay present in the moment long enough to listen. What is your mind/body telling you? Where does the majority of your focus reside? Just do whatever it is that you need to remain in a state of mindfulness and balance. Please feel free to apply my WTF Rule, as needed. I use this word a lot, but this is a journey, not a competition or a task to be completed. Experience, learn, love and repeat. Sending you love and positive vibes on your journey. Peace
Comentários