 | Today my daughter, who is backpacking through Vietnam as we speak, asked me if I have heard of The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I looked it up and, one of the first things I came across, was this quote . . "Wherever you are be all there” |
Years ago, when I was at university, I had a holiday job on a farm in Otago. One of my enduring memories was a fridge magnet which said "Life is Not a Rehearsal for Living". Its funny how something which resonates with you comes back again and again.
OK so I haven't read the Power of Now but I have heard of Eckhart Tolle and like what he has to say. The concept of living in the moment, is on the face of it, complete common sense. Being present and savouring what you are doing and feeling right now is surely a good thing? But if you are anything like me you just can't help thinking about something else. Distractions are usually what gets me . . . something on the radio in the background, a ding on my mobile, a thought about what I have to do that afternoon - or tomorrow - or anytime.
Letting go of worries about the future is one of the things I always need to be mindful of. I am a bread winner in my family and I think of myself as a supporter for others. I draw a certain strength from the fact that I care for and look after people - my family, My friends, people at work. And so I feel responsible and therefore look to the future all the time to think about what's coming up . . . what do I need to accomplish . . . ?
Meditation has been great for me. I did a course on meditation some time ago and loved it. I feel calm, relaxed and centred when I meditate. Meditation is all about letting your thoughts go and just being. You acknowledge your thoughts (ignoring them just doesn't work) and let them go like clouds drifting off into the sky . . . or like eddies in a stream. You focus on your breath and after a while you fall into this deep sense of relaxation. Its powerful.
Living a busy life and being in the now is always going to be a challenge for me. My eldest daughter, one of my mentors in life, is particularly good at being present. So I am going to take steps to be more present, more centred and more in the now.
OK so I haven't read the Power of Now but I have heard of Eckhart Tolle and like what he has to say. The concept of living in the moment, is on the face of it, complete common sense. Being present and savouring what you are doing and feeling right now is surely a good thing? But if you are anything like me you just can't help thinking about something else. Distractions are usually what gets me . . . something on the radio in the background, a ding on my mobile, a thought about what I have to do that afternoon - or tomorrow - or anytime.
Letting go of worries about the future is one of the things I always need to be mindful of. I am a bread winner in my family and I think of myself as a supporter for others. I draw a certain strength from the fact that I care for and look after people - my family, My friends, people at work. And so I feel responsible and therefore look to the future all the time to think about what's coming up . . . what do I need to accomplish . . . ?
Meditation has been great for me. I did a course on meditation some time ago and loved it. I feel calm, relaxed and centred when I meditate. Meditation is all about letting your thoughts go and just being. You acknowledge your thoughts (ignoring them just doesn't work) and let them go like clouds drifting off into the sky . . . or like eddies in a stream. You focus on your breath and after a while you fall into this deep sense of relaxation. Its powerful.
Living a busy life and being in the now is always going to be a challenge for me. My eldest daughter, one of my mentors in life, is particularly good at being present. So I am going to take steps to be more present, more centred and more in the now.
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