~~~Living In The Present Moment~~~
***I
also have a tip for you - so many of us are in our head, that is why we
have headaches neck aches, head problems, we think, stress over
analyze, OCD repeat negative thoughts. Picture all this energy in your
head draining to your HEART, your HEART can handle it. Hugs - Sara Hope
you like this meditation.
We’ve all
heard it, but how often do we actually do it? Present moment awareness
is fundamental if we wish to evolve as human beings, for the present is
the only place where we can truly connect with ourselves, with the inner
experience of peace and fulfillment that I call “Love-Consciousness”.
Love-consciousness is the most natural thing in the world. It is the
unconditional love within all beings, an experience that keeps expanding
when we dive deep within ourselves. It is not a strange or ethereal
experience but something very concrete and natural; you have probably
experienced it before in moments of your life — maybe while spending
time with a baby or animal, expressing yourself creatively, watching the
sun set, or meditating.
Love-consciousness lives in the
present moment, so stop wandering off into the past — they’ve had quite
enough of your time already, thank you. It’s time to give the here and
now — the present, where life is really happening — a bit of sorely
needed attention.
We all know we need to be present, but how?
At times, we remember to be fully present, but worry and regret,
distraction and obsession have become so customary for us that we soon
wander off again. Today we are going to learn a powerful tool that will
help create a new habit: the habit of being present, anchored deeply
within ourselves. Then we can begin to live our lives from an inner
space of peace and stability, to act and respond to the challenges of
the day with joy, compassion and intuition, instead of getting lost in
the doing.
Praise love for this moment in its perfection.
Let’s practice this facet now, for 20 minutes. Here’s how:
1. Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Allow any thoughts that come to
mind to gently pass. Don’t seek to stop your thoughts; don’t try to
enter a state of no-mind. Instead, just allow whatever comes to happen
naturally.
2. Say, in your mind, this thought: Praise love for this moment in its perfection.
Think it without any effort, the same way you might think any other
thought, without concentrating or even trying to understand its meaning.
3. At the same time that you think this facet, put your attention deep in the area of your heart.
4. After thinking the facet, leave a space, a pause. After a few moments, repeat the thought and again leave a space.
5. Continue in this way for about twenty minutes. You can glance at your watch or a clock to check the time.
Don’t think the facet over and over again nonstop as you would a mantra
— always leave a space of a few seconds between each repetition. You
may experience peace and silence during this gap, but it is also
possible that you will have thoughts. Sometimes you may forget the
facet, change some of the words, or stray from the point of attention.
If this happens, as soon as you realize it, simply go back to thinking
the facet correctly. All of this is perfectly normal and natural. Just
remember: when you realize that you are not thinking the facet, choose
to think it again. Let’s close our eyes now, and practice for 20
minutes.
When You Have Finished...
In
order to benefit from the full power of this facet, it is necessary to
commit to regular practice. If we join a gym but never go, we do not get
fitter. In the same way, if we do not practice the facets, they do not
work. Ideally, practice for an hour a day with the eyes closed. You can
divide this hour into two blocks of half an hour or three blocks of
twenty minutes. The most important thing is that you do it. If on some
days, you can’t do an hour, a shorter time is better than nothing.
We refer to practicing the facet as unifying. There are two ways to unify: with eyes open and with eyes closed.
Keeping the eyes closed is the most profound way to unify, as it takes you deep into the experience of love-consciousness.
You can think this facet with your eyes open whenever you want, in any
situation. For maximum results, think it every time you remember — while
you are brushing your teeth, exercising at the gym, watching TV, or
waiting in line at the bank. Every time you use the facet, you are
bringing your attention completely into the present moment and
connecting with love-consciousness. When you are present in the moment,
the projections and fears clouding your window of perception begin to
dissolve. You start to see with new eyes.
Reclaim the Innocence of Childhood
Children have the upper hand over us adults in the happiness department— they approach everything as if it were the first time, completely
unfettered by what has come before. They see magic and wonder everywhere
they look.
Can you imagine how much of a relief it would be to return to that state?
When I was a child, I just was. I wasn’t observing myself or measuring
the reactions of those around me; I wasn’t trying to manipulate, seduce,
or control in any way; just to be myself was enough. I had no concept
of what it was to be ridiculous, or to be serious: if I was happy, I
laughed; if I was sad, I cried. The bottom line: I didn’t question my
actions. I just was. I was the beingness, being. Carrying the
accumulated baggage of adulthood, with its opinions, fears, and
misguided perceptions, we have lost this spontaneity.
As you go
about your daily life, continually shake the Etch A Sketch of your mind
and see things as a child would — without expectations or
recriminations. Try to see each person afresh. When the homeless person
comes to ask for a coin, give him a smile instead of your usual rebuttal
— maybe that was all he ever really wanted. When your tedious
mother-in-law calls on the phone, don’t answer anticipating her
reprimands and complaints. When your boss calls you into her office,
don’t automatically expect her to chastise you — maybe she’ll give you a
raise! We are always on guard, expecting that something is wrong.
Instead, adopt the emptiness and spontaneous innocence of a child; open
yourself up to receive with joy.