The week stretches before you, a canvas waiting for your brushstrokes. Goals to set, dreams to chase – it’s the natural human instinct to plan, to propel ourselves towards a perceived better future. But in this mad dash towards “what could be,” we often forget the most fertile ground for growth: the present moment.
Our teacher for this week is John Welwood, and as we look ahead at a new week his message is that of course we have to plan for the future, but we can’t live there!
Keep returning to the present. Find acceptance for the being that you are right now, it’s so easy to slip into the narrative that says, “I’ll be acceptable once I’ve finally fixed all my flaws.”
“Forget about enlightenment. Sit down wherever you are and listen to the wind singing in your veins. Feel the love, the longing, and the fear in your bones. Open your heart to who you are, right now, not who you would like to be. Not the saint you’re striving to become. But the being right here before you, inside you, around you. All of you is holy. You’re already more and less than whatever you can know. Breathe out, touch in, let go.” – John Welwood
“We already have so much abundance. We truly do. We need not search too far. It is within. The reason we fail to recognize this is because we haven’t quite mastered the art of being.” – John Welwood
“In recognizing exactly where we have been unconscious, we become more conscious.” – John Welwood
This isn’t a dismissal of goals or aspirations. Planning provides direction, but it shouldn’t become our sole focus. We often get caught in the “when-I-get-there” narrative: “I’ll be happy when I finally achieve X, Y, or Z.” Welwood reminds us that the abundance we crave isn’t reserved for some future enlightened state; it’s available right now, within the messy beauty of our present reality.
The present moment holds the key. We start this week with a reminder to not get lost in the goals of the future but to move from moment to moment asking:
“what does this present moment ask me to pay attention to?”
Is it a simmering pot on the stove, a call to a loved one, or simply the feeling of your breath against your nostrils? By grounding ourselves in the now, we can respond authentically and effectively.
Pouring 100% our energy into what the present moment requires of us, is what sets us up for the next moment and the next.
This week, let’s make a pact:
- Notice the breath: Take a few mindful breaths throughout the day.
- Feel your body: Acknowledge physical sensations, both pleasant and unpleasant, without judgment.
- Embrace your emotions: Don’t shy away from difficult emotions. Observe them, name them, and let them pass.
- Be present with others: Put down your phone during conversations. Listen actively and engage fully.
Remember, “enlightenment” isn’t some distant peak you have to conquer. It’s the journey itself, savoring each step with an open heart and a present mind.
Hope you have an awesome week!
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Jumpstart the week!