Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering. – Ida Scott Taylor McKinney
It’s Day 6 and we’re nearing the close of our first week on this amazing journey! I want to start off by reiterating the Message of the Day because it was a poignant one: “Living in the present moment isn’t just good advice, it’s important to recognize that the present is the only place that living really happens. We can’t have creative and inspired thoughts if our mind is held back by guilt, regret, and pain from the past. We are not going to be open to the possibilities and beauty around us if we anxious and fearful of the future.” Whew, let’s let that marinate……now a reciting of the day’s centering thought – I am present to receive the gifts of life!
One of the journal prompts this day asked us to identify three things that take us out of present-moment awareness. We were urged to list the most common things, likely because those are the ones that are recurring and the most impactful to our time imbalances. I had the following to offer:
- Lack of or poor quality sleep
- Assuming responsibility for others and not allowing them the space nor opportunity to do for themselves
- Experiencing moments of anxiousness, fear or worry
To address the opposite mind-body space, I feel the most present and tuned in while I am engaged in the following activities:
- Reading captivating and thought-provoking books
- Listening to or making music
- Being in or around nature, particularly the ocean
It is said that when we are naturally tuned in we feel aware and alive. This present-moment consciousness can help to spark our creative tendencies and help us to sit more fully in our truths, passions and pursuits! As someone who is deeply involved in so much personally meaningful work I want to be able to give my full attention to what’s in front of me and sit completely in the positive impact that my work has on the people who benefit from it. When I’m unable to connect in this way some tasks can begin to feel unchallenging which may bring about a sense of my just “going through the motions”. In order to feel connected I need to remain connected! I am present, I am aware and I am plugged into the now!
We’re always looking to hear your thoughts and feedback on this meditation experience! This is the last meditation experience of 2017 hosted by Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey via the Chopra Center Meditation organization. It kicked off on October 30th and we’re really excited with the theme: Making Every Moment Matter.
