The Beauty of Staying Present
I
am really simplifying my life and enjoying each moment. Today was a good example of what my life consists of: a
cup of tea and bowl of muesli, checking emails, doing meditation, yoga, walking, writing, listening to music,
reading on the internet, meditating some more, chatting to my son, watering the garden, emptying the rubbish,
cleaning the toilet, making pumpkin soup. The moon is almost full, so I went outside to have a look:
Beautiful! The sky was clear and full of stars! How blissful is that! Simple, yet so meaningful. No reason to
rush here and there, working, proving my worth to anyone. All I need do is Be. That is enough. To simply Be and
bless others who are in my presence as they feel the powerful energy of love emanating from my soul.
I
no longer want to look back at what has been, nor do I want to look forward to what has never been. My desire
now is to stay present with what is happening in this moment. As I do this, I feel more alive, closer to Spirit.
I sense spirit breathing me. I feel that witnessing presence, watching, experiencing, not judging or wanting
anything to be other than what it is. My mind wants to judge, look ahead, look back, analyse things. My spirit
wants to enjoy this moment, bathing in the radiance of eternity. For what is now but always? I face the rise and
fall of each experience; I accept everything as it is; if it does not resonate with my inner joy barometer, I
change something, either my reaction to it or my direction. Today when I was on my walk, I saw a large dead
snake up ahead on the path, so of course, I moved to one side and walked around it. In life it’s the same: we
change direction when something crosses our path that we would rather not “step on.”
I
realise how my life has been so much about thinking, including worrying, planning, desiring something I don’t
have right now, looking for ways to be happy, instead of just focusing on being happy right now with what is
happening in front of me! It’s a joke really! Life is a joke! And the joke’s on us! If only we could see how
absurd it is to spend this moment always looking at another moment (either one that has passed or one that
hasn’t yet arrived). Wouldn’t it be nice if we all were able to stay present, handling each moment as it
arrives, with full alertness and awareness? Wouldn’t it be nice if we trusted life enough to know that we have
the ability to handle each moment with confidence, knowing that all is happening as it is meant to
happen?
And wouldn’t it be great if we
faced each moment with anticipation, magic and joy? As if each moment was something to embrace with our totality
of Being, because it will never be repeated! How about looking at each thing that comes into our hologram as a
child would: with wonder and awe. How about we start living from our heart centre instead of our mind centre?
How about staying present with what is, surrendering to the moment, accepting what is, and using our courage to
change what does not resonate with our soul. This is how I want to live. I know now that this is possible. Not
only is it possible, but it is the way to happiness, contentment, peace and joy. As I stay in my heart centre
and “feel” what I am to do next, I remain in an uplifted and joyous space. There is no struggle here. All
happens in its perfect timing. I just have to remain alert and ready to respond to life. I need not struggle and
make things happen. I need not worry that things may not happen as I want them to. I need not fear that
something bad will happen. Because I have learned to trust in this moment and in my Higher self, knowing that
she will face each moment as it arises, with wisdom and understanding. I trust myself. I trust the universe. I
trust the process of life!
As long as I stay in this place
of presence, all will happen as it is meant to happen. In this state of presence I am in touch with spirit...the
spirit within me as well as the all-knowing, all-powerful spirit. My heart is my barometer in all situations. I
simply check in with my heart and listen to its beat....is it in joy or in despair? If I feel joy, I know I am
on the right path. If I feel despair, I know it is time to change direction. I no longer am willing to do
anything that does not resonate with joy for me. If it is not of joy, I no longer will follow that course of
action. Simple really!
“What is the relationship between something that you do and the state of
joy?
You will enjoy any activity in which you are fully present, any activity that is not just a means to
an end.
It isn't the action you perform that you really enjoy, but the deep sense of aliveness that flows
into it. That aliveness is one with who you are.
This means that when you enjoy doing something, you are really experiencing the joy of Being in its
dynamic aspect. That's why anything you enjoy doing connects you with the power behind all
creation.”
From: A New Earth, by Eckhart Tolle.
www.eckharttolle.com
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