In the whirlwind of daily life, it’s really easy to get caught up in our own heads. Perpetually jumping between anxieties about the future, and regrets about the past. This constant state of mental time travel leaves us feeling exhausted and disconnected from the richness of the present moment. We become like ghosts haunting our own lives, forever dissatisfied with the “now” because we’re fixated on a “should have been” or a “what if.” This, my friends, is the trap of trying to live in a moment that doesn’t exist.
“The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness. Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you are doing.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
Can you let go of what you thought this moment “should have been”, and accept what this moment calls for?
“Mindfulness practice means that we commit fully in each moment to be present; inviting ourselves to interface with this moment in full awareness, with the intention to embody as best we can an orientation of calmness, mindfulness, and equanimity right here and right now.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
What is the power of the present moment?
When I am holding on to the thought of what this moment “should have been”… then I am not in this moment. I am “trying” to be in some other moment that doesn’t exist.
When I am attached to the thought of what this moment “should have been”… then I am guaranteed not to see what this moment actually DOES make available.
When I am standing in front of and banging on a locked door which I am convinced “should” have been open, then my attachment to that thought will prevent me from stepping back and taking a real look around to see that there are a 100 more doors for me to knock on.
Living in presence does not mean that I only sit and meditate. But it does mean that the more often I meditate, the easier it becomes to see – with clarity – what this moment asks me to step up and do.
Here are some guiding mantras to help you embrace the power of the present moment:
- “Where my feet are at, this is where I am.” This simple phrase brings your attention back to the present reality.
- “What becomes available to me in this moment?” This question shifts your focus from lack to possibility.
- “I release regrets about the past and anxieties about the future.” Letting go allows you to be open to what unfolds.
You can pour your energy into a past or future that exists only in your imagination, or you can become better at applying all of your energy to what is in front of you right now, in this moment. Only one of these options is actually productive.
Have a beautiful day, fearless souls.
-pierre-
Today’s LIVE meditation is: The power of now.