“Life can only take place in the present moment. If we lose the present moment, we lose life.”
-Buddha
How do the words above resonate with you?
Pause here for a moment and free yourself from distractions:
Take a deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... calm your mind and be present...
How do you define living?
living /adjective/
having life; active, functioning
being alive; not dead
in actual existence or use, thriving; vigorous; strong
How are you living these days...? Real question,,, give it some thought...
We spend a lot of time on autopilot. Busy being busy... so much that we don’t even realize we are missing out on important moments. Grinding, providing, working, producing...
Reflect over the past six months, what did you miss that you wish you hadn’t? Dig deep... spend time with this question...
We all have legitimate reasons for working so hard. I believe however, it’s equally as important to enjoy living. Creating that balance is possible and the past two years has been a reminder of how urgent what’s possible has become.
The Art of Now: Six Steps to Living in the Moment (psychologytoday.com)
1. Unselfconsciousness: To improve your performance, stop thinking about it. Thinking too hard about what you're doing actually makes you do worse. Instead of getting stuck in your head and worrying, you can let yourself go.
2. Savoring: To avoid worrying about the future, focus on the present. Often, we're so trapped in thoughts of the future or the past that we forget to experience, let alone enjoy, what's happening right now. Instead, relish or luxuriate in whatever you're doing at the present moment.
3. Breathe: If you want a future with your significant other, inhabit the present. Living consciously with alert interest has a powerful effect on interpersonal life. Mindfulness actually inoculates people against aggressive impulses. Focusing on the present reboots your mind so you can respond thoughtfully rather than automatically. There's no better way to bring yourself into the present moment than to focus on your breathing. Your breath is always with you.
4. Flow: To make the most of time, lose track of it. Flow occurs when you're so engrossed in a task that you lose track of everything else around you. Set the stage, creating the optimal conditions for it to occur.
-Set a goal that's challenging but not unattainable
-Goals need to be clearly defined so that you always know your next step.
-Set up the task in such a way that you receive direct and immediate feedback.
5, Acceptance: If something is bothering you, move toward it rather than away from it. The present moment can only be as it is. Trying to change it only frustrates and exhausts you. Acceptance relieves you of this needless extra suffering. It just means you accept that certain things are beyond your control. What happens next, is what you choose to do.
6. Engagement: Know that you don't know. Develop the habit of always noticing new things in whatever situation you're in. That process creates engagement with the present moment and releases a cascade of other benefits. Noticing new things puts you emphatically in the here and now. By acquiring the habit of noticing new things, we recognize that the world is actually changing constantly. It becomes an adventure in noticing—and the more you notice, the more you see.
“As you walk, eat, and travel, be where you are.” -Buddha
Today’s Challenge: Be present!
As you pass through this day, savor often the present reality.
Often: 10 second minimum 4 times TODAY.
Pause for 10 seconds, breathe, notice your surroundings, focus your attention to one of your 5 senses: hear, see, taste, touch, smell
This is it! Savor the present moments...
Now, what’s your plan... what are you willing to do?
Don’t miss your opportunity. Be intentional. Encourage others to do the same and watch what happens.
You got this!
Coach Tavia
#thinkforyourself, #reflect, #reach, #stretch, #bepositive, #honoryourself, #responsibility, #faceyourfears, #bepresent, #buildrelationships, #learnandgrow, #mindfulness, #breathe, #accountability, #speakup, #act, #faith, #confidence, #believe, #ittakescourage, #focus, #shift, #trustyourself, #dothework, #shareyourgifts, #beofservice, #releaseyourpower, #knowyourworth, #leadbyexample, #justdoit, #lifecoach, #leadershipcoach, #leadershipdevelopment, #letsgo
References:
Hendricks, Gay; A year of Living Consciously: 365 Daily Inspirations for Creating a Life of Passion and Purpose. Harper One, New York, NY 1998.
The Art of Now: Six Steps to Living in the Moment
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