Being in the moment.

For most of us non Yogi like individuals 'being in the moment' is very tricky.

We can maybe stop doing physical stuff, but the physical bit is much much easier than switching the brain off. So how do we stop those lists being drawn up constantly and the constant 'Oh I must remember to,' or 'Wouldn't it be great to.'

It takes focus and practice, lots of practice, but the good news is that the focus part is the same sort of focus we use when we have a deadline and manage to block everything out apart from the thing we are doing!

So take that focus and focus on something around you now and really look at it, what do you notice?

(If you are really stuck look at a tree! How many different colours are in the foliage, how many different shades of green?, how do the branches connect?)

Focus entirely on the thing happening around you and see how long you can keep that up before something pops into your head, acknowledge the thing and then start the process again.

Being in the moment is about a mental awareness of what is going on with us and those around us, our focus is in the present, not in the future or the past. It takes lots of practice and we can all get better at it.

Maybe once you have mastered objects, move on and look at people, and emotions internally and externally.

Living the life we have moment by moment in the present is the greatest gift we can give ourselves and those around us, so give yourself a treat, go on you deserve it!

Comments

Kindness, a simple word with a powerful reach

When was the last time you were intentionally or unintentionally kind to someone else? Is there a 'type' of kindness you demonstrate regularly? To a particular type of person. Is it time to expand your repertoire? Kindness is contagious, essential for genuine human interactions and good for both parties. 'Random Acts of Kindness Org' posit being kind is linked to a decrease in stress, anxiety, depression and even blood pressure (see there website below). So not only does it help someone else but it is also good for us. So if you are up for a challenge you could try embedding the practice of kindness into your everyday. There are many resources for home, schools and businesses in the links below. And don't forget to be kind to yourself! https://kindness.org/ https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

What 10 things do you do well?

We are generally very good at knowing what we need to do better but very very bad at being able to say we do something well. "I should do more exercise." "I could communicate more." "I need to get better at time management." "I should work on my presentation skills." "I need/ should (add your own in here!!!) It is time to put a different perspective on it. After all you didn't get to the ripe old age of (add here whatever age you feel like being), without managing to do some things well, the tricky part is being able to articulate what they are. So grab that coffee, find somewhere quiet and write down/think of 10 things you do well, just 10. Oh and fight the temptation to be glib, so 'I am good at being on facebook' doesn't count, but 'I am good at keeping in touch with people' does! The reality is that remembering and stating what we are good at is much harder than it sounds. We spend most of our time in the ...

The here and now, living in it

I am currently reading a book about presence... being present in the here and now and transcending our physical being into our spiritual being through retreats and other such malarky! What a waste of paper, I feel guilty about the tree which created this book! Unfortunately (or fortunately) most of us cannot afford the time and or cash to head out on a month long retreat to find our inner selves and to be honest the experience may fill our souls with wonder but it is short lived when we return to our here and now and our general lives. It is more important to find 'presence' in our existing lives, our realities rather than head off into the ether to discover it. If you suffer from living in the future, constantly striving, making no time for yourself in the now, please consider the following time effective but real ways to wake up to the now. Sit for 2 mins and focus on your breathing or your heart rate- nothing else- and if thoughts come into your head tell them yo...

From Clutter to Clarity

Search This Blog