“Your Daily Dose” is a quick two minute read packed with bite-sized wisdom from all the great teachers. But you could also choose to turn it into something more… a powerful daily practice for personal growth. Give it a try!
A message from today’s meditation:
Today’s meditation is called “The power of NOW”. It is the same as the title of Eckhart Tolle’s book which recognizes that the only place where we have true agency – the only place where we have any power to be effective at all – is in this present moment.
“The point of life is not to get anywhere, it is to notice that you are, and have always been, already there. You are always and forever in the moment of pure creation. The point of life therefore is to create who and what you are, and then to experience that.” – Neale Donald Walsch
“Enlightenment is understanding that there is nowhere to go, nothing to do, and nobody you have to be except exactly who you’re being right now.” – Neale Donald Walsch
Through a practice like meditation we become better at observing our thinking, rather than being dragged along by our thoughts.
We think thousands of thoughts in a day. Studies show that our brain can come up with anything from 40,000 to 80,000 thoughts every day, it’s just what a human brain does – and about 80% of those thoughts are on repeat, the same thoughts as the day before and the day before that.
So when I am unaware that all of this is “old thinking”, then my present moment is always hijacked by thoughts from the past. And when I act from this old thinking, then thoughts from my past keep creating my next moment, and next day, and next year constantly reinforcing an old story – that I don’t even want – into perpetuity. Always creating and re-creating the past.
“Do not let anything from your past inhibit you in this Present Moment. Start over. Start Fresh. Each day. Each hour, if it serves you. Heck, each minute. Just get going. Just do it. A fresh start every moment with love. All else will take care of itself.” – Neale Donald Walsch
“So much of your present experience is based on your previous thought. Thought leads to experience, which leads to thought, which leads to experience. This can produce constant joy when the Sponsoring Thought is joyous. But also it can, and does, produce continual hell when the Sponsoring Thought is hellatious.” – Neale Donald Walsch
The past serves either as a teacher or a trap.
We can of course avoid falling into the trap of the past, and make ourselves available to the beautiful teacher that the past can be.
On autopilot the past will repeat itself and forever be your master, but when you are present, every moment is a fresh start. In conscious awareness you can learn from the past and choose how you want to experience the present.
Let’s remind ourselves to constantly bring ourselves back to present awareness, and ask – from moment to moment: What does this moment require of me? What does this moment ask me to step up and do? What opportunity does this moment make available to me?
Moment to moment, bring your attention back from the past into the only place you have any power to create anything new:
- “I choose to be the conscious author of my experience, not a prisoner of my past.”
- “Each breath brings me back to the only place where transformation is possible – here and now.”
- “I trust in my ability to respond to each moment in presence, creating new possibilities with awareness and love.”
Right now, in this moment you have the power to choose a different response than you ever have before. One step at a time, one breath at a time, moment by moment, you are giving shape to a new future.
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: The power of NOW.
Today’s LIVE meditation
https://youtu.be/RgouLSbLl2k 2025
https://youtu.be/kvypq_D6lGI 2024
https://youtu.be/IRokAPx1GFU 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnBCXe3xWEQ 2020
Practice the “Daily Dose”
Let’s put it into practice! Choose what works for you – daily, once a week or whenever inspiration strikes. Putting pen to paper wires the neural pathways that will create your new habits.
1 – Affirmation
Write down your favourite affirmation on a sticky note and place it somewhere that you’ll be able to see it the whole day.
- “I choose to be the conscious author of my experience, not a prisoner of my past.”
- “Each breath brings me back to the only place where transformation is possible – here and now.”
- “I trust in my ability to respond to each moment in presence, creating new possibilities with awareness and love.”
2 – A moment of reflection
Use today’s question as a journal prompt. If you don’t have the time to sit down and write, just take a moment to reflect on your response.
The Past as Teacher vs. Trap: Reflect on a recurring challenge or pattern in your life that seems to repeat itself. Write about how this pattern first emerged from your past experiences. Then explore: In what ways has this past experience served as a teacher, offering you wisdom or growth? In what ways has it become a trap, limiting your present responses? How might you honor the lesson while releasing the limitation?
3 – Quotes to share
Send a quote to someone who needs it, or share them all on social media to spread the good vibes!
4 – Q&A for deeper learning
Read through the questions and answers and write down at least one “aha moment” that clicked for you.
1. Is it really true that 80% of our thoughts are repetitive?
Yes, research in neuroscience and psychology supports this finding. Studies suggest that the vast majority of our daily thoughts are automatic, habitual patterns that repeat from day to day. This is partly due to how our brains are wired for efficiency – they create mental shortcuts and patterns to conserve energy. While this can be helpful for routine tasks, it can also keep us trapped in limiting thought loops that no longer serve us.
2. How can I tell the difference between being “dragged along” by thoughts versus observing them?
When you’re being dragged along by thoughts, you feel reactive, emotional, and as if the thoughts are happening to you. You might find yourself lost in worry, regret, or mental stories without realizing it. When you’re observing thoughts, there’s a sense of spaciousness and choice. You can notice thoughts arising and passing without automatically believing or acting on them. It’s like watching clouds pass in the sky rather than being caught in the storm.
3. What does “enlightenment is understanding there’s nowhere to go” actually mean in practical terms?
This doesn’t mean we should stop having goals or ambitions. Rather, it means recognizing that fulfillment and peace aren’t found in some future achievement or destination – they’re available right now. When we stop constantly seeking happiness “out there” or “when this goal is achieved,” we can tap into the completeness that already exists within us. This paradoxically makes us more effective in pursuing our goals because we’re not desperately grasping or coming from a place of lack.
4. How can I break free from old thinking patterns that seem automatic?
Start by developing awareness through practices like meditation, mindfulness, or simply pausing throughout the day to notice your thoughts. When you catch yourself in an old pattern, don’t judge it – just acknowledge it with compassion. Then consciously choose a different response or perspective. It takes practice, but each moment of awareness weakens the old pattern and strengthens your capacity for conscious choice.
5. What’s the difference between learning from the past and being trapped by it?
Learning from the past means extracting wisdom, insights, and lessons that can inform better present-moment choices. Being trapped by the past means automatically repeating old reactions, staying stuck in resentment or regret, or letting past experiences dictate current possibilities. The key is to honor the lessons while releasing the limitations.
6. How do I practically apply “What does this moment ask of me?” throughout my day?
Make this question a regular check-in tool. Set reminders on your phone, use transition moments (like walking through doorways), or create specific pause points in your routine. When you ask this question, listen for what feels most aligned, necessary, or opportunity-rich in that moment. It might be as simple as taking a deep breath, as practical as making a phone call, or as profound as offering forgiveness.
7. Can focusing on the present moment help with anxiety about the future?
Absolutely. Anxiety is often fueled by projecting current or past experiences onto future scenarios. When you ground yourself in present-moment awareness, you realize that right now, in this moment, you are safe and capable. You can plan for the future from a place of clarity rather than fear, and you develop trust in your ability to handle whatever comes. The present moment is the only place where you have any actual power to influence your future.