“I’ll tell you a secret. Something they don’t teach you in your temple. The Gods envy us. They envy us because we’re mortal, because any moment might be our last. Everything is more beautiful because we’re doomed. You will never be lovelier than you are now. We will never be here again.”~ Achilles
Do you get it?
This moment could be your last.
This could be the last sunset you see, her many colors lighting your sky.
This could be the last honey you taste. The sticky sweetness drenching your tongue.
This could be the last time you see her smile. The edge of her mouth reaching into the crinkle of her nose, illuminating her dark eyes.
This could be it.
But you, my dear, are missing it in a million ways.
You are letting your fears become louder than the sound of the birds that are singing to you.
Your worries are controlling your mind, so that you are missing the kind words being said to you.
Your longing for yesterday is clouding the hope that is in her eyes when she looks at you.
Your thoughts of tomorrow have missed the breeze that has come to cool your skin, the light that has come to warm your heart, the clouds that have come to bring your soul shade.
“Where are you?”, the moment cries. “I’ve missed you. I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”
Be in the moment. It is only this way that we can really get a glimpse of who you really are. When you are fully present, you get to fully enjoy life. The moment is presenting so much to you, but it is so easy to miss.
We let our thoughts and worries get in the way, and we miss the deep conversation the world is trying to have with us. So, how can we get there? How can we be in the moment? How can we practice mindfulness and make our lives a constant meditation to the present?
Photo Credit: Georgie Pauwels via Compfight cc
How To Be In The Moment
1. Pay more attention to your physical body
It’s easy to get so wrapped up in our inner thoughts, that we completely forget that we have a physical body. I find that when I tune in to how my physical body feels, it brings me back to the present. Do you feel a breeze or sunlight on your face? Are you feeling warm or cold? Hungry or tired?
Pay attention to the motion of your body as you walk. Breathe deeply, and pay attention to that breath. Try doing your next workout or yoga practice by paying attention to how each muscle moves in your body. Give someone a massage and instead of worrying about doing it right, just feel the contact of your hands on their skin. Try being only present with what your physical body is feeling without letting your thoughts get in the way.
2. Take time to savor.
Do you rush out of the door in the morning, cup of coffee in hand, frantic and in a rush to get to work? What if you woke up fifteen minutes earlier and gave yourself time to savor the morning? Savor the cup of coffee or tea you are drinking. Pay attention to the way it warms you and wakes you up. Pay attention to the feel of your favorite cup in your hand.
Put on soft music, and let the music move through your body. Eat fresh fruit, and appreciate the vibrant colors and the health it is bringing to your body. Reflect on its sweetness in your mouth. Try to bring the act of savoring to your whole day. Show appreciation for each moment you have. This is a way to take control of your days rather than letting your days take control of you.
3. Be present when you are with others.
The reason people often feel lonely is that they don’t really connect with others when they are with them. When I traveled to both Bali and Mexico, I noticed something about the way people interacted with each other in these countries. They often just sit in silence together. They aren’t checking their phones or scrolling through Facebook while together. They are giving each other the gift of one another’s presence.
When you are fully present with another person, you stop projecting your stories onto them, and you truly see the other person. When you completely listen to someone else, or just practice being with someone, you are relating to that person more deeply, and this leads to more intimate and fulfilling relationships.
4. Let Go
How many times have you been afraid to sing at the top of your lungs, cut loose on the dance floor, or make a total fool of yourself because of who was watching? Have you held yourself back from saying what you really thought because you were afraid of how others would respond?
If you really want to be in the moment, let your body express the feelings you are having. Unleash your joy. Release your passion. Express your true feelings. You just might inspire others to do the same.
5. Surrender Open to the moment.
A lot of people will tell you to surrender to the moment, but to me, surrender sounds like defeat. I prefer the term open. Yes, there are moments we don’t enjoy being in. But if we open to these moments, we can ask what they are here to teach us. We can feel them fully, and before you know it, these moments, too, will pass.
However, if we remain closed to what the moment is trying to teach us, chances are, that moment will appear again and again until we get the lesson. Thoughts and feelings show up because they want to be heard. To be in the moment, acknowledge your thoughts, let them be heard, and then watch them transform.
Thought-provoking post! It can be hard to live in the moment sometimes when you’re caught up in it all. Thanks for the reminder!
Life and the universe have a sense of humor. Just look at the person to your right. And remember…”Its hard to remember you are there to drain the swamp when you are up to you ass in Alligators.”. Its sometimes difficult sucking the moment out of your day. I do subscribe to your concepts. I think it folly to do otherwise. I will have more to say in the future.
Awesome, Lynn! Love the quote…I think a sense of humor is crucial!!