My mind has been swirling and my soul has been restless for the past few days. Not sure why, but I seem to be reviewing the past and fretting about the future – or better yet, trying desperately to predict the future. Ah, the life and times of an amateur fortune teller. It’s interesting that the pros only focus on the good stuff while we novices tend to like to sit there and scare the crap out of ourselves.
The swirling and restlessness will dissipate (it always does), but in the meantime, all I can do is catch myself drifting away and then bring my focus back to the present moment. It takes awareness. The same awareness that one requires to avoid flatulating in a yoga class. Can I get an Amen?
Make a shift. Be Here Now.
Stressful thoughts always (yes, always) stem from an attachment to the past or future. Think of something that’s stressing you out right now – I guarantee you that it’s something that has already happened or not yet happened. A woman who attended a workshop that I did a few weeks ago challenged me on that point and after she told me that her stressor was the current construction taking place on her street, I asked her if she was standing on her street amidst the construction right now. She smiled and gave me a thumbs up.
Make a shift. Be Here Now.
When it comes to peeling oneself off the ceiling, returning to the present moment is like jotting down a gratitude list – it’s one of those quick acts of consciousness that can return you to planet earth in an instant which is a fabulous thing when there are other earthlings who are counting on you.
This is why meditation is everything that it’s cracked up to be.
You can meditate anywhere, by the way. If you’re focusing on what’s going on right in front of you, you’re meditating. If you’re walking down the street and that’s where your attention is, you’re meditating. I find chanting and deep breath meditation agonizing and boring. If I need to sit down and write a to-do list, I go and meditate because that list will be done in seconds. I’ve tried meditation CDs – those things are great, because while I’m listening to it, I unload the dishwasher, pay my bills online, and tidy my office. I know, I know…
I like to meditate off the cuff. If I bring my attention back to the part of my life that is right in front of me, I can instantly feel the tension lift, the shoulders drop, and the ground beneath my feet. For how ever long I can stay here, I am connected back to who I really am which is not my thoughts.
Even though it’s effective as all get-out, being present/meditation can be challenging. We humans can so easily drift away in the past or the future. We’re drifters from way back. I’m sure you’ve been talking with someone and thirty seconds into the conversation you are gone – your attention and thoughts are somewhere else. As you are standing there appearing to be having a conversation, you can see their mouth moving…you can hear sounds…but, you’re wondering if you should go ahead with having that dinner party in a couple weeks or hold off until the new sofa arrives.
When you’re in the car, see if you’re in the car. I will often be driving home from somewhere and not one of my thoughts will pertain to the fact that I’m operating a heavy piece of machinery that’s in motion. I’ll pull into my driveway, park my car, sit back, and think to myself, “Now, how the hell did I get here? I hope everyone’s okay!”
When you’re in the shower in the morning, check and see if you’re in the shower. How many times are you already at that meeting, having that conversation with, sending that email, or doing something on your to-do list? Right now, I want you to consider how many times you have showered with the people you work with. I can always tell when I’ve drifted away in the shower because I’ll suddenly come back to the present moment and realize that I have no idea if I’ve put the conditioner in my hair yet. There’s a true reality check. Some mornings I’m sure my hair get an extra dose of conditioning.
I even find it challenging to be in the present moment when I’m away on vacation. Even though I’m relaxing on the beach or shopping in a big, cosmopolitan city, I’ll start drifting away. Maybe during my next holiday I’ll send postcards that say, “Having a great time! Wish I was here!” Sigh…
It’s certainly a challenge and it does take awareness, but the gifts of meditation (on a CD or off the cuff) are varied and numerous.
It’s rather appropriate that the word, present, has more than one meaning, wouldn’t you agree?
Big Love,
susan