I am going to start this article if I may by asking a question. Are you in the habit of either living in the past or the future? Perhaps like many, you alternate between spending time in both the past and future, thus avoiding the treasures, which only a life experienced in the present moment can bring. This practise robs us of so much of the joy, aliveness and fulfillment, which is our birthright.
Spiritual growth teacher and author, Wayne Dyer makes the point, "Avoiding the present moment is almost a disease in our culture and we are conditioned to sacrifice the present for the future. Carried to its logical conclusion, this attitude is not merely the avoidance of enjoyment in the now, but an evasion of happiness forever." It is a human trait to look to an imaginary future, dreaming of a life which is far better than the one we are living right now. Alternatively we project to a fearful future in which the mind conjures up the worst possible scenarios.
Similarly, the past is equally illusory. By viewing it in a nostalgic manner, we are likely to miss the good that life has for us today. The past has gone and cannot be recreated, and even if it could, those experiences are not what the Universe has for us now. Also our memories often play tricks with us, conveniently allowing us to forget the negative aspects of those past memories. Additionally the past may be remembered as a set of fearful or negative experiences and as such hold us prisoner, as we tell ourselves that those events can and will affect us in our present.
It is good to be in the habit of asking ourselves the following question; "What is wrong with this present moment?" Despite anticipating a potential challenge in some future moment, whether it is seconds, minutes, hours or days away, the truth is that usually there is nothing wrong with this particular moment. Let us live fully in the moment for as we surrender to it, we find the grace and strength to bring about change.
Let us remember that we are not our thought or our emotions, but the awareness that witnesses those thoughts and emotions. If we live in our thoughts, we are liable to become slaves to those thoughts, especially if they take us away from living in the only place that we can - the present moment.
Are you in a job that you do not really enjoy? Are you in company that you would rather not be keeping, or in the midst of a challenging situation that you are desperate to escape from? However, this is your reality at this time. Resistance and denial are futile. It is far better to embrace what is. There is a phrase often quoted in self improvement circles which says, "Whatever we resist persists." The Law of Attraction is irrefutable - we attract into our lives more of whatever the mind dwells on. This is true equally for positive and negative influences.
There are several exercises that you can try to get you started experiencing the present moment. The easiest is to simply observe the breath. Connect to the act of breathing. Observe the inhale and exhale, watching the air enter and leaving the body, notice the rise and fall of the chest. Become aware of how the in-breath is cooler and the out-breath is warmer.
Also you could notice the feeling of the inner body. By this I mean the energy of it. You may feel a warm or a tingling sensation. At first you may experience it in certain parts of the body only, with the hands and feet being the most common. Now do not think about the feeling of the inner body but experience it. Remember we are learning to reduce our dependency on thought.
Thirdly you could observe each aspect of everyday activities. My favourite is to perform this exercise in the shower. I notice the sensation of water making contact with my body, the sound and the temperature, as well as the different feelings of the shower gel and flannel or sponge. I also notice the feelings of relaxation and well-being that are generated. This exercise can be applied to any mundane task such as brushing your teeth or hair or performing chores around the house.
Another personal favourite exercise is whilst walking in the park, to be aware of each step and movement of the body and to mindfully observe the flowers and trees, as well as the birdsong and other sounds. Again it is best not to 'think' too much about your observations, but notice them as they are. Develop the practise of experiencing them and recognising the "oneness" of all things.
I see the value of a daily meditation routine, regularly setting aside at least forty minutes for the practice. However, much more important than this, is discovering the secret of finding many moments of being present during the day. Look to come back to the present moment often. Even if it is only for a second or two that is great. Concentrate on the frequency of returning to the present rather than the length of time
I hope that you have found this brief introduction to living in the present moment useful and if you would like to follow up on it, you can do a search on the Internet to find a plethora of articles and other resources on the subject.
