“How do we cultivate the conditions for joy to expand?  We train in staying present.” – Pema Chodron

“The point of power is always in the present moment.” – Louise L. Hay

“If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.” – Lao Tzu 

“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.” – Eckhart Tolle

“Forever is composed of nows.” – Emily Dickinson

Lately, I’ve had a hard time concentrating.  My mind tends to head in two different directions – either wandering in days gone past or busy contemplating all that lies ahead.

If I’m not careful, I can find myself stuck in memories – longing for the days when my family was young, hurting over the void left by friendships that seem forever lost, missing my Dad and the loving wisdom he imparted, or dreaming about a love that will never return.

I’m also quite hard on myself – replaying all the mistakes I’ve made – carrying the heavy burden of wanting so desperately to go back in time and do things over again – positively changing the outcome.  If only I could have been a better, more valuable person.  If only I could have said and done the right thing, this dreadful replaying of the past would cease to exist.

Have you ever felt like this – constantly looking and LIVING backward?

Then, with all the craziness of our current world, one cannot help but constantly wonder where all this will take us.  I find myself speculating and worrying about what lies in store for our country, the health and well-being of my family, and based on my current situation, how things will ever change enough to create the future that I long for and dream about. 

I’m the analytical sort, so often my thoughts can get immersed in trying to plan and strategize a path forward.  But with the current uncertainty and unpredictability, you can drive yourself crazy trying to determine the best course of action to take.  Even worse, you can feel hopeless – concerned this world will get progressively unscrupulous and more corrupt.

Have you felt like this recently – caught in thoughts about what LIVING will look like down the road?

Funny thing, but the past has been LIVED and the future cannot be INHABITED or secured, in fact; no part of it is even guaranteed.  LIVING is now – unfolding in the seconds and minutes before you.  As Louise Hay states above, the present moment is where your power is found– where LIVING unfolds!  What a waste of LIVING to spend it in time gone by or in pursuit of a future that isn’t assured. 

Is it ok to have fond memories or to learn from our past mistakes?  Is it so awful to think about or plan for tomorrow?  Absolutely not!  But when LIVING is consumed by either, the quality of living NOW diminishes.  The pleasure you get out of life and the impact you can have on others fades.

“Do not call to mind the former things or ponder things of the past.  Behold, I will do something new, NOW it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it?” – Isaiah 43: 18-19 NASB

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.” – Matthew 6:34 NLT

How can we train ourselves to stay in the present as Pema Chodron suggests above?

OUR SURROUNDINGS

The outdoors has a way of helping you stay present.  It brings you closer to the Creator through His creation – taking your focus away from fading memories or the worries of tomorrow.  When you feel the wind in your face, the warmth of the sun, or find yourself looking intently at the landscape, you are immersed in the present moment – LIVING now!

If your thoughts are distracting you, taking you someplace in the past or to some imaginary, uncertain future, change your physical venue.  Go for a walk and concentrate on what is unfolding around you in the immediate moments.  Sit outside and watch the birds, breathe fresh air, or listen to the gentle brook as it runs past you.  When you engage your mind in what you see or experience around you in the present moment, you are LIVING my friend!

MONITOR YOUR THOUGHTS

The Bible encourages us to “take every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5) and to allow God to transform us into someone new via changing the way we think (Romans 12:2).  We begin to train ourselves to stay in the present moment when we take time to observe our thoughts.

I do this during my quiet time each day – going over what captured my attention during the day and how it affected my mood and my direction.  This allows me to see begin seeing patterns and to change those patterns moving forward.

When I catch myself thinking too far forward or too stuck in my past, I stop and focus on something happening in the PRESENT moment.  I concentrate on my beating heart, on each breath I take, or move my gaze to something in my immediate surroundings.  I pay closer attention to the sounds I am hearing around me, to the faces I see, and bring myself back to what is ACTUALLY UNFOLDING within the present moment – where LIVING is happening.

When we do this, we are training and teaching ourselves to re-center in the present – transforming how we think.  Try these techniques and you will begin to move your thoughts in alignment with life as it unfolds around you.

You can also use your five senses to help you move your thoughts away from the past and the future by absorbing yourself in what you are currently tasting, smelling, touching, seeing, and hearing.

Smell the aroma of the coffee, savor its taste, feel the warmth of the mug as you hold it.  Watch the sun rise and listen to the birds as they wake up.  When you concentrate on the five senses, it moves your thoughts away from what has been or what could be and centers them in what you are experiencing NOW – the very essence of life itself!

AFFIRM THE POWER OF NOW

We cannot change the past, nor can we dictate the future.  All of our power lies in the present moment.  When we place ourselves squarely in the center of NOW, we are choosing to get the most out of life – LIVING it to the full 😊

As an example, we can do nothing about something we said in the past, nor can we make some pledge to say something better tomorrow if tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.  We can however say something NOW – to change, heal, and restore a relationship that makes a difference in our lives and the lives of friends, partner, or family members.

We can wish we had loved better or hope that love will enter our lives down the road, or we can love NOW.  We can lament over what we did or think about what we might do tomorrow, or we can do something TODAY, right NOW, that will add value to our lives in the present moment.

What we do NOW can alter the influence of our past.  It can change our future if indeed tomorrow arises.  Affirm and embrace this power and you will change your life my friend 😊

It’s all about this moment.  It’s all about what we see and embrace as today unfolds.  Your life is NOW – not in what has been or what might be someday.

May God help each of us live it to the full – getting the most out of each moment and achieving all He desires of us today! 

God bless 😊