Stress Buster! Live in the moment.

I became aware of living my life in the moment a few years ago when I read "The Power of Now," by Eckhart Tolle.  After reading that book I never thought about  my past, present and future the same way.   That book opened my eyes to  time I  wasted living in the past and in my future and throwing  away my present as if it is worthless.

 It explains that nothing exists outside of now.  The past and future are illusions that only exist when we think about them.  Odd but so true.   I realized the time I wasted looking back at a past  I could not change and worrying about future events that have not happened.   I was wasting my present life. 

I spent a lot of time in the future, mostly worrying.  Do you do that?  I was concerned about finding a job, paying a bill, meeting a deadline.  Sometime always  in my future.  I never really got where I wanted to be.  It was always someday I will do this, when this happen.  Some day will not come without change.

All I needed do was to engage fully this moment and the future would take care of itself.

How true this has proven to be. 

It's difficult to focus on the present and one thing at a time in this hectic world.  Our minds jump from one thing to another at the speed of light or faster. You are stressed to the max.  You toss and turn at night with your mind racing unable to sleep.

Make a decision to slow down and be in this moment.  This moment is where you will find peace and contentment.

"Present-moment living, getting in touch with your now, is at the heart of effective living. When you think about it, there really is no other moment you can live. Now is all there is, and the future is just another present moment to live when it arrives. One thing is certain, you cannot live it until it does appear."   Dyer, Wayne     

If you have never tried living in the moment try it now.  Fully engage in what you are doing now and nothing else.  This is what I am doing as I write this article.  At this moment I am well, I am breathing easily, my stomach is full and I have shelter.   I feel good.  I know  for certain my future will be good when it arrives. 

How are you in this moment?   Do not worry about yesterday, it is dead.  It can only be resurrected in your mind.  You cannot change it.  Make a decision to grow from yesterday and move on.  Do not fret over tomorrow, it does not exist.  All you have is now. 

A few years ago I lost an entire summer worrying about losing my home.  I corrected this thinking and eventually sold my home instead.  I could not tell you one thing that happened that summer except I was living in the future worrying about selling my house.  How sad is that?

I learned to enjoy my family and all of the time I spend with them I cherish. I lost my youngest daughter last year and I am so thankful for the wonderful memories I have.  They would not exist if I was not present and fully engaged when she was with me.

I learned many great lessons from that experience.  Learning to live in the moment is not impossible.  When you find yourself thinking about some thing other than what you are involved in now, flip it.

I don't dwell in the past and I do not worry about my future.  I do what I must  today and love it.  I enjoy this moment. I don't have it down perfect but I am constantly improving as can you.  I know  my future will be ok.  This I am absolutely sure of. 

Try living in the moment.  It is called freedom.

Concentrate on this moment  now and stay there for as long as you can, you know that all is well with you and peace is in this place.  Now. 

Honor yourself.