365 Lessons-Lesson 13: Live Moment to Moment

This moment is all you have. What are you doing right now in this moment? Are you here? Can you feel yourself from the inside? Can you feel your breath? Can you feel your body? How does your body feel in this moment? Stop everything. Stop your thinking and just feel yourself from the inside. How do you feel? Take the next few moments to feel yourself from the inside out........

We spend so much energy thinking about the past and the future, but all we really ever have is now. Maybe you know this, you have read about it, people have said this in the past and you agree. But do you really know this? Are you really practicing this?

How much time do you spend thinking about the future......where you want to go, what you want to do, who you want to be. Or how much time do you spend worrying about the future or lamenting about what happened in the past? Is this really a good use of time? What's gone is gone and the future's not ours to see.

I am a list maker. One reason I make lists is to get thoughts out of my head. I put my ideas on paper. When I complete something on the list, I cross it off. I try not to think too much about what I have done or what I'm going to do. I just put it on the list. Sometimes I lose my balance and start thinking about what I'd like to accomplish in the future. This gets overwhelming after awhile and starts the whole cycle of stress, worry, fear, etc. These emotions can overpower us and make us feel like quitting.

I think it is good to reflect on our own accomplishments from the past, as long as we don't get stuck there. If we are mindfully reflecting, it can give us strength for this moment. If we are holding on to what we once were, we have lost this moment.

Oprah Winfrey said, "My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment." I completely agree.

Right now you may be thinking, "I don't like where I am in life." This thought can be discouraging. To get ourselves out of the deep hole that we have put ourselves in can seem like too much effort. It's easier just to rest in the hole and forget about it. If we think about the distance we need to go, we may stop before we even begin.

Once you start living your life in moments, this whole idea of getting somewhere changes. The only thing you are responsible for is living THIS moment the best you can. Just think about this moment. Keep bringing yourself back to this moment again and again.

If you are walking, just walk. If you are looking at the ocean, just look at the ocean. If you are typing a blog post on your computer, just type a blog post on your computer. If you are reading this blog post, just read this blog post. If you are shoveling shit, just shovel shit. If your children are screaming, witness that in the moment and do what you need to do in the next moment. If someone says something you don't like, witness it first. How does that feel inside you. Be where you are without thinking you have to change it...without thinking you have to change YOU or anyone else.

Of course emotions and feelings and thoughts will arise when you are doing any activity, but you don't need to chase your thoughts down dark corners. Let them come up, let them be there...but don't hold them.

Right now I am typing. I feel my fingers on the keyboard. The sun is shining into my office. I feel tingling in my feet. My legs are crossed. I feel comfortable right now. I feel light. I don't know what I will type next, but this is what I am typing right now.

How about you? How do you feel right now? How are you living this moment? It's all you have.