It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle of life, the speed of the Facebook feed, the limited hours in the day and the dreams and opportunities that we sometimes feel are passing us by. The amount of energy that we spend “thinking about being caught up” is staggering when you actually take a moment to reflect on it.
How much time have you spent lately worrying about something or replaying a negative story in your head?
A lot, huh? What if you took all of those moment you spent worrying and put that energy towards cultivating more presence and awareness in your life? Or better yet, building on a dream, imagining, spending time with loved ones, letting someone know how grateful you are for them. Yes, life CAN feel and be overwhelming sometimes, but it’s truly in those moments that we have the opportunity to step back into presence.
Wait, what? When we feel disconnected from living fully – THAT is when we need to step back into it? YES! When we notice ourselves getting wound up in a story or pattern, that is the perfect moment to notice and bring yourself back to your center. To remember your true nature is one of love, pure being and you are whole and perfect in this moment.
This powerful practice can change your life because no matter where we are on the path, there will always be countless moments throughout your day when you have the opportunity to notice yourself disconnected from presence. Moment by moment you begin to recognize that each one counts.
It’s a gradual process, one that takes practice, patience and the willingness to keep coming back, day by day; moment by moment.
Here are some thoughts to support you in calling this practice into your life.
Befriend your habits (the good, the bad and the ugly)
Recognizing that your habits, patterns and beliefs are all truly a part of the wonderfully already perfect you is an important first step. We will always have obstacles (inner and outer) in our lives so approaching them like a “friend in need” with compassion, empathy and forgiveness is a good approach. Hey, everybody worries sometimes.
Let your “bad” habit jumpstart a positive one
Make a commitment for one week to notice every time a worry or a story creeps up on you and when you notice yourself becoming disconnected, try saying a positive mantra or affirmation and taking a deep breath to bring yourself back to presence. Here is a simple mediation to cultivate inner and outer peace.
Remember to take it one “moment” at a time
While it’s truly the journey that counts and not the destination, it could be said that an “aim” of spiritual practice is to be fully alive and present in each moment – noticing and cultivating more and more awareness. In that, we remember that in our more difficult moments, “this too shall pass”.
True Nature Education is a True Nature is an Educational Travel Company which provides full service in the planning, support, and guiding of a diverse catalog of trips to Costa Rica each year with a focus on offering unique and transformational experiences for both our teachers leading retreats and the students taking them. Check out our 2014 Calendar of retreats.
