Hi guys,
So as promised, this week we are following on from last week and we are focusing on trying to live in the here and now. As simple as living in the now seems, many people (including myself) find it a extremely difficult thing to do. Living in the now is a way of living that takes months and months of practice, and sometimes things that take time and effort just seem not worth it as we are constantly in a hurry to get to our next destination asap, we want to find a 'quick and easy' solution as to why we are feeling so low. Unfortunately, anything worth having takes time, effort and patience! And I have learn't this the hard way. It is only very very recently that I have decided to try something new, to live in the moment. Like many of you reading this, I thought it would a very simple and easy task, and that it is once you have done some research and practiced this way of living over and over again. To live in the moment means that you are completely focused on the here and now. You are not worrying about the past or the future, and as a result you are more aware as to what is happening around you right this second. When you live in the present you are living where life is happening. The past and future do not exist. A few weeks ago when i was explaining this to someone, they looked at me as if I had ten heads. They said, "well of course you are living now." However there is a difference to being physically present and mentally present. Imagine this, you are having a conversation with a friend and they mention the word presents. I don't know about you but one too many times my mind has skipped through the whole year to December 25th and i mentally make up a list of who I have to buy for and how I am going to afford it. It is one thing being organised and picking up a few bits here and there but it is not healthy lying awake at night worrying about something that is four months away!! Or if you are having a conversation with someone and but your mind is thinking about something that happened four months ago. You are not really living and enjoying life as it is happening, you are too busy focusing on things that really don't matter right now when you think of it. Imagine having a conversation and actually being 100% focused and mentally present for the entire thing??? It's hard to imagine, but once you have one you will wonder why you didn't try to live in the moment years ago! So how do you try to live in the moment? Things like mindfulness and meditation are a great way to bring you into the present, however they are things that will come to you at a later stage. It is like if someone is learning how to swim, you don't put them in the deep end and expect them to do 400 meters do you? Like swimming, you need to take baby steps when learning something different and especially with learning how to live in the moment you have to take each minute as it comes and not try to race to the deep end from day one. What I love about this practice is that there is no real right or wrong way, you live in the moment the way you want to. The way to start your journey is just learn how to give your mind a break for even five minutes. Learn how to take in what is happening around you right now, taking in the smells, noises, what you see etc. Although it is important to note these things, it is more important to not judge them, to just note that they are happening. If you feel your thoughts drifting off topic and to the past or the future, simply let these thoughts happen and then when the thoughts have finished slowly bring your attention back to what is happening now. So imagine you are on your way into work on the bus. Turn off your music, put your phone in your pocket or in your bag and just be. For some people it is easier for them to close their eyes so that they are not distracted. If you are too embarrassed to close your eyes on the bus (lets face it many people have even fallen asleep on the bus), then just sit up straight and look out the window. Notice what is going on, what you can see, what your can hear but don't force these thoughts and most of all try not to judge them. As simple and easy as this seems, the first few times you try it, it will be quite difficult as thoughts will try to force their way into your head while you are trying to focus on the now you may get quite frustrated as your brain will wander form time to time. It is natural for the brain to wander, so don't give up. The ore you let the thoughts pass and re- focus on the now, the less frequent your mind will wander the next time you take a minute to experience what is happening now. So for the next few days, try to live in the moment. What is happening now, right this moment? After the first few tries, this will start to become a natural thing to do and I can promise you that your head will feel a lot lighter and not so bogged down with thoughts running through your mind. Good luck lovelies! Love as always Em XX
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This page is to keep you all up to date on where I am on my journey, what I am up to and general chat! Archives
April 2018
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