1997, spiritual guide Eckhart Tolle published his now classic The power of nowinviting us to conduct an internal investigation Start in the present moment and transcend yourself and your thoughts. In this work, the German-born teacher insists that the only time is now. so, Must live in the moment. But what is there at this moment?
Live in the moment: what it means
Everyone has their own experience, but The future and the past certainly do not exist here and now.
But in order to survive, Our brains rely on memory to work.
The mind is accustomed to predicting the near future Thereby being prepared for what may happen. In the body, it turns into what we call a reflex, which we use in martial arts, driving, or any sport.
When we dwell on the past, we prolong the pain Those experiences we cannot change, Or we anxiously project ourselves into the futurewhich is a nest of worries, often imagined.
Psychological warfare can also be waged in the moment when we reject a situationthe posture or manner in which our family or friends act when we fight against it Instead of “loving the status quo”, As Byron Katie said.
Michael Brown, author the process of existence, Defines present-moment awareness as “a state of being, not something we do.”
when we meet flow statedefined by psychologists Mihai Csikszentmihalyi As a moment of action in which we lose ourselves and our temporality, We are fully focused on what we are doingwe can live 100% in the present moment.
so, There are two doors to the present moment: one is to stop doing; The other is to go with what we do.
Chime Tips for Living in the Moment
The body only exists in the present moment.
teachers Mindfulness they invite us Anchoring ourselves in the here and now through our five sensesthrough physical sensation.
This 10-minute guided meditation will help you stay connected to the present moment at any time of the day:
While we can imagine the future or travel into the past to unlock the keys to our current lives, The more times we incarnate in the body, the more present and happy we become.
By being, we open a space to become aware of our actions.We also achieved Neutral status of observer.
that that thatFind the shortest way to yourself. There is no longer a distinction between who you are, how you feel, what you think, communicate and behave.
this kind observation also invite Stop fighting the status quo, stop reacting on autopilot.
As Orientalists and philosophers concluded Alan Watts: “This feeling of eternal presence (…) is the secret of a proper pace of life. Life is not rushed and time is not wasted. This is A feeling that flows with the progression of events Just like you dance to the music, don’t try to run forward or stay behind. Rushing and procrastinating are similar ways of trying to resist the present moment. “
Dancing, visiting nature, resting or meditating can help you develop a sense of presence.
In Plum Village and Retirement Center line by line There is a good practice for cultivating this presence: From time to time a bell rings Invite the entire community to stop what they are doing at the time and Practice mindful breathing.
Live in the Moment: One-Minute Ring Tricks
Always busy, brooding, rushed, overstimulated…current enemies prevent you from appearing. Hence the importance of rest.
This exercise is based on the one I suggested to you. Stop resisting and be present. They are the two keys to loving what is.
Just like the monk in Plum Village:
- Program using your watch or phone 4-5 alarm clocks throughout the day, at different times of the day. For example, you can choose a ringtone.
- The alert will be Call Thich Nhat Hanh for parking. They will remind you to stop, breathe 5-6 times and reconnect with yourself.
- Stop, observe and write down what you feel. No matter where you are or what you are doing, notice how you feel after practicing and if inspiration strikes, write it down. In a few weeks you’ll see how everything changes.
Bonus Tip: Exercises to Heal Silence
Especially if you live in an urban environment, Continuous noise affects our balance Apparently, as the World Health Organization concluded in 2011, noise pollution like a modern plague increase stress levelsThe problem Insomnia and anxietyin addition to reducing our attention span.
For unwanted city soundtracks we can add other soundtracks Sound interference in our daily lives: Noise from the TV or radio in the background, background music that we don’t pay attention to, mobile notifications, or even the hum of a quiet appliance. Our nervous systems need an oasis of quiet every day Recover from stimulation and return to your center. In this article, we’ll tell you how to practice those healing moments of silence.
What is healing silence?
he healing silence It’s not completely noise-free like a soundproof room. Actually, In nature, silence is never absolute, inserting sounds such as the songs or movements of animals, the sound of wind or rain from time to time.But, that forest bathing, forest bathing For the Japanese, it is still Bath in the silence of the city relax.
Acoustic reconnection with nature is good medicine for the nervous system, returning it to its natural home. Silence helps us rest, heal and nourish the souloffers the possibility to connect with ourselves and facilitates the mental process of clarifying thoughts and making important decisions.
Sitting quietly is the basis for meditation and an effective way Connect with your inner spring. There are some simple exercises to ensure your brain doesn’t get burned out by endless stimulation:
- Take a few minutes break between meetings Breathing without talking to others or checking messages; there is also a kind of visual silence.
- Give yourself some space for self-reflection. You can use them for writing.
- Set aside time for readingwithout any other interference.
- listen to friends Pay as much attention as you can.
- Practice mindfulness: You can do it while sitting or walking slowly.
- spend time in nature Listen to the wind, birdsong, insects, or the sound of the ocean.
Daily Exercise Links to Healing Silence
Make time for yourself every day, in two batches of 10 minutes each: when you get up in the morning and before going to bed at night. Practice the sequence I tell you below.
- In the first three minutes, focus on your breathing, take a moment to observe.You can accompany this peaceful time listen to music.
- In the next four minutes you can Take notes, draw, or give yourself a little massage around eyes, ears or neck. It’s about expressing your heart and taking care of yourself.
- spend the last three minutes Return your attention to listening to your breathing. See if your emotions feel any different.
Silence is necessary for self-knowledge
As the Belgian writer Maurice Maeterlinck said: “Silence is the sunshine that ripens the fruits of the soul.We cannot accurately understand a person who never shuts up».
Just like painting requires a blank canvas, Creativity also requires silence Promotes focus, listening, and expression of internal processes.
Opening the door of silence will lead you to a deeper experience of life and improve your relationship with yourself and those with whom you share your life.
However, there is one Cultural considerations when managing noise. It is very common for passengers on high-speed trains to watch their favorite TV series without headphones, or chat on the phone loudly, forcing the entire passenger group to accompany him.
This will be Silence worries us Because it connects us to thoughts and internal issues we don’t want to address? Silence can be an escape from the hustle and bustle of the world, or it can be a weapon to punish or pressure others.But even without intentionally practicing it, many people feel uncomfortable and They try to fill the silence with anything.