It’s funny, you know, as a coach I get asked some challenging questions.
Sometimes they are the same challenges I have, which should not be surprising at all.
After all, we are all human, and face basically the same challenges.
I was recently asked how to look forward to a new year, when there is so much to worry about, and so many mistakes in this last year that needed to be addressed.
I’ve been reading a lot from Eckhart Tolle’s work and a few things resonated deeply, particularly about living in the present moment.
It’s a fact, after all, we only have this moment.
And this moment.
And this moment.
Nothing else exists.
Sure you can remember the past, but it doesn’t exist now, even though we may wish it did so we could change it, but it doesn’t.
Tolle said:
…”the past gives you an identity and the future holds the promise of salvation, of fulfillment in whatever form. Both are illusions.”
Wow.
We are not, right now, in this moment, our past or our future.
We only cause ourselves un-necessary stress when we drag out the past unhappiness, or worry about the future, and if our focus is on those things we are just giving the unhappiness a bigger place in our hearts and minds.
If we can bring ourselves to be right where we are we may very well see a whole lot of things that bring us happiness. They were there all along, but we were too busy worrying to see them.
This is at the core of mindfulness. Being mindful of what is, not worrying about what was or will be. We can work WITH the present instead of fighting it.
If the present moment sucks?
Know that this too will pass.
It may be here to teach us a great lesson.
If we are willing to listen.
If we aren’t willing to listen, if we struggle, it’s going to teach us anyway, but it’s probably going to increase in hardship, or frequency, or conflict until we earn the lesson.
The sooner we see this?
The less we struggle.
The more opportunity we have to grow into who we really are meant to be.