There are times in our lives that are ripe for reflection and transformation. I believe this is one of those times. Many people today are standing at an emotional and spiritual crossroads, looking back on the life they have been living; questioning its meaning, questioning the choices they’ve made, and searching for answers that will give them peace.
People all over the world are in the midst of a spiritual crisis, desperately trying to discover and define new values as it becomes apparent in these very challenging, frightening and violent times that the old values have somehow led us away from the very harmony and contentment our forefathers came to the United States seeking. I believe as we get further into the twenty-first century, we will all, collectively and alone be searching for our purpose.
Most of us live waiting for one activity to be over, so we can start a new one. I hear so many people say things like, “Is it the weekend yet? Is it time for my vacation yet? Is it time to go home from work yet?”
Ask yourself right now, if you are fully reading this article. Or are you reading and thinking about the work you should be doing or who you need to call later. This is how we rob ourselves of enjoying life. We don’t know how to give all of our attention to whatever activity we’re involved in, to surrender fully to the experience of the present moment.
It’s impossible to enjoy life to the fullest when we aren’t in the present. No wonder we often feel our lives don’t have as much meaning as we want them to, or that we’re bored with what we’re doing, or that something is missing but what’s missing?
What’s missing is our full experience of the present moment. What’s missing is our ability to actually fully live our lives and express who we are.
When you’re present you are totally in the moment. Being present allows you to take ordinary experiences like putting your child to bed or even driving your car and turning it into a meaningful experience because you are present. Your intention is to fully experience what you are doing and where you are, instead of just letting it pass over you and waiting for the next thing to happen.
Most of us do not live in the present moment. We do things without thinking, automatically and unconsciously. This is what causes so much of our suffering and the suffering of people around us.
When you don’t live in the present moment is allows you for example, to stay in a relationship that is not good for you, that is not nourishing you and may even be bad for you. Not living in the present causes you to ignore messages that your body gives you that things are not right and often lead to serious illnesses years later. Not living in the present moment is a very unhealthy mental habit.
Here are three things you can do right now to start living in the present moment:
First is to develop a higher level of consciousness. This means you’re consciously and completely experiencing what you’re doing and where you are. You’re paying attention. You notice things you wouldn’t perceive if you were not totally there. Only when you are totally focused in the moment can you receive the gift, the lesson, the experience of the moment.
Second is to have an emotional connection between yourself and someone or something. It might be a connection between you and someone you love, you and a stranger, you and a tree you’re looking at, or you and an audience you’re making a presentation to. It’s a moment in which the boundaries which appear to separate us are penetrated.
Third is to totally surrender yourself into whatever you’re experiencing. You stop trying to control it. You’re totally engaged in what you’re doing, whether it’s taking a walk, or making love, or watching your kids play. You’re embracing rather than resisting the experience.
We are here on this earth for such a short period of time. You deserve to enjoy all the richness life has to offer but you don’t have to wait for magical experiences to happen to you. You can create them. You can create miracles and magical experiences whenever and wherever you want to.
