The Power of Being Present in the Moment
Here is your mission for the day. I want you to bring your
awareness to your thoughts every hour of the day. I want you to make note, how
often are your thoughts in the future? How often are your thoughts in the past?
It may be surprising to you, but most of us are operating moment from moment
either in the past or in the future.
The only time we truly have is now, in this moment. What we
feel and experience is happening now. The past does not exist and the future is
not promised. So much suffering is generated by the past and future because we
have forgotten how to be present in the now and how to be present within our
bodies.
We are a society of avoiding pain, suffering or any emotion
that is unpleasant. We are overworked because we are constantly running after a
future that never seems to be realized. If we attain one goal, there seems to
be another we have to chase after. Then we begin to burn out and run our bodies
down. Then we get angry and frustrated because we can’t keep up. Who or what
are we keeping up with?
How much suffering do we generate with thoughts of the past?
Whether thoughts about going back, wishing we could have done something
different or being unable to let go of a situation. Or how often do we replay
an event and think of all the possible ways it could have gone wrong, then get
angry and anxious over the situation that has already past?
It was interesting for me to note, how often my mind wanders
and dwells. It is not until we pause and take a few moments to be present with
our thoughts that we can “see” or “sense” more clearly how our mind is
operating. So, for example, a few hours before seeing clients I might get this
sense of anxiety that I need to prepare and really think about what I am going
to do. Not to say this is a bad thing, being prepared, but the feeling of
possibly being inadequate does not serve a positive purpose.
What I was able to notice was the “feelings” of anxiety and worry
that I might not be prepared enough and therefore I might miss an important
exercise or technique and if I did that then somehow the treatment would fail
and the client would think I’m not good at my job. It is in this pause that I
am able to note my thoughts of the future and see them just as thoughts. And if
they are just thoughts, then it is not actually happening and therefore I am
not actually in danger of failure or judgment and this allows my anxiety and
worry to slowly wash away along with the thoughts.
Presence in the now, allows me to identify this and
therefore begin to free myself of this unnecessary suffering. Not that these
thoughts won’t come up, but I no longer have to identify these thoughts as part
of who I am. I can see my thoughts as if they were a cloud moving through the
sky, being pushed by the wind. One moment there is a rainy cloud, sometimes a
thunderous one, but it is just a cloud that will pass. It is not part of who I
am.
Looking at it this way, begins to loosen the grip of
anxiety, worry and suffering that I can actually be present in my environment
rather than a future. If I can begin to change my perspective, anyone is able
to do so with the right tools and help.
The Pelvic Health Lady
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