The Vacation Of Your Dreams? It’s Actually An Escape From YOU.
By Laura Coe
“Always say “yes” to the present moment. What could be more futile, more insane, than to create inner resistance to what already is? what could be more insane than to oppose life itself, which is now and always now? Surrender to what is. Say “yes” to life — and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you.” ― Eckhart Tolle
I am sitting at my computer typing this blog. My living room is totally still, except for the sound of my keyboard clicking and my son’s voice in the distance as he slays an imaginary ninja warrior.
This moment is my now, my present moment. However, my mind wanders to the past or future without consciousness. Even though I am physically rooted in time, my mind is not. I am sitting in the livingroom, but my mind is anywhere but this livingroom.
What does it mean to live in the Now?
My thoughts:
- Will this blog be any good?
- What will we have for dinner?
- Should I turn on more lights?
- I enjoyed my pedicure today.
- I loved the new Netflix, White Collar, that I started yesterday.
- I wish that had I stuck with soccer in college.
My mind goes back to memories from yesterday, a week ago, or years past. But the memory exists in my mind today. I am thinking it now, even if it is a memory.
Now I sit here typing. Now I remember my pedicure, Netflix show, and the soccer disappointment. Now I imagine if this blog will be well received, what I will have for dinner, and if I should turn on an extra light. But while I ponder my past and consider my future options, those thoughts are happening now. I only have the present moment. I only have now.
The memories are only etchings in my mind
The future is only images of what I believe or hope or fear may come.
What if you stop thinking about the past and the future and focus 100% on the present moment?
I am typing.
I am breathing.
I am amazed how boring it is to pay attention to breathing and typing.
The reason I am bored is because I am focusing on the only thing I know how to focus on, my thoughts. But thoughts are not the present moment. The present moment is more than our thoughts. Focus on the present moment and allow your thoughts to slow down, even have a space between them.
In the space between thoughts you will find your true essence, your being. You will find your authentic self. This is you. Our brain does not understand ideas like “being”, so it wants to argue with the idea because it is so connected to thoughts. Being is devoid of thought and as great as our minds are as a tool to navigate, analyze, and assess, it is terrible at living in the now.
I am not typing. I am not sitting in a dark room. I am stillness in motion. I am being.
Explore the sensation of being without any thoughts. Take a moment tonight and try to find a space between thoughts. In that space, see if you can turn your attention to your breathing, your heart beating, and your stomach moving in and out. Then, go a bit deeper. Relax your shoulders, eyes, and chest. Find the part of yourself that is past your thoughts and past your physical parts.
Awareness of being without thought is one success in being in the present moment. The now.
“Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it.” ― Eckhart Tolle