Back To The Present: Living With Mindful Awareness Today

How often do you find yourself revisiting the past regardless of whether it was a good event or one of suffering? 'If I would have only...' statements are a common preamble to such reimaginations.

How often do you fast forward your life, waiting for the present moment to end for a time that you anticipate will be filled with ease and joy. 'When I earn my college degree my life will be easier', are common conclusory statements as well. 

Holding grudges is living in the past. Continually judging someone from an action they did many years ago is living in the past. Thinking and longing for the past, well...is living on the past. And living in the past robs us of the precious jewel we have today. 

Trying to read someone's thoughts or mindset is living on the future. Anticipation or dread is living in the future. Wishing that an experience is over is living in the future as well. It is living in the future in the sense that we are expecting that some future moment will be better than the present one you are currently in. 

Many of us, including myself, enjoy a good sci-fi time travel movie. They offer us a nostalgic view of when we were younger or perhaps of a future time when the problems of society have been eradicated. Yes, I'm still waiting patiently for either a hoverboard or flying car.

But imagine continuously judging every current situation under the lens of a distant past. A past that will never, under any circumstance, present itself again. Or imagine judging an old high school classmate, friend or otherwise, as they were from when they were only 16 or 17 years old? Are you still the same person from that age? Probably not. These examples are not two isolated circumstances, they are intrinsically intertwined. Mindset such as these limit us from experiencing the moment or person as it truly is. We are busy making the situation fit our narrative. We have allowed an idea, concept, or notion, to rob us of the present moment.

Conversely, when we try to 'figure out' what someone else is thinking our minds are consistently active in trying to stay one step ahead. In doing so our minds are playing out so many potential scenarios that most likely will never even manifest. For example, recall a hard conversation you were about to partake in. Did you explore several 'hypothetical' outcomes? How many paths did you walk down? 'If I say this' their response 'could be'. This is a fine example of living in the future and for what purpose? Did the conversation unfold as expected? How much time did you spend in preparation that could have been spent mindfully elsewhere? But more importantly we aren't listening to understand, we are listening to respond. Listening to respond is living in the future and results in a disservice to both parties.

Regardless of whether or not the sci-fi version of time travel isn't important to our daily lives, many of us are already living in the past or the future robbing us of the time we already exist in. We rob ourselves of the true joy of being with ourselves at the expense of a past that will never happen again or a future that will always be unpredictable.

So let's all get back to the present moment...no flux capacitor needed. 

Wishing you continued peace and wellbeing,

Vladimir

You are warmly invited to follow on us on Facebook and Instagram at @bluelotuscenter for more ways to improve your mindfulness practice and wellbeing.

Blue Lotus Meditation and Mindfulness Center is a registered 501(c)(3) religious organization.

Website and monthly newsletter: www.bluelotusmeditation.us

For guided meditations and Dharma talks, please visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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Have You Done Enough? A Mindful Approach To Accomplishment.

We've all pushed through some form of challenge whether it was physical, mental, or career related. As humans we enjoy seeing our limits from time to time but to what extent. Do we cease when we break a bone or sustain some injury? Do we only realize we've gone too far personally or professionally when a valued relationship comes to an end.

So what are some early signs that we have indeed done enough we may bring awareness to before a negative outcome results. 

One of the first signs that comes to mind is continuously working long hours, regardless of if you have a family or not. This notion certainly goes against the mindset of todays modern world of 'being productive'. 

I encounter this mindset during many conversations I have. It is irrespective of gender too and afflicts male and female equally. As a result of this unsustainable and unhealthy notion these people have not only increased their daily stress but have also increased their chances for health issues.

Another sign that comes to mind is brining your work home with you. Imagine your life totally revolving around your job. Although it's important to do a 'good job' while you're at work it's more important to have healthy boundaries in place. No matter what your job title or position you hold in any organization you are replaceable. You are not replaceable to your family. Your health is not replaceable. And your well-being is certainly not replaceable.

A third sign that often presents itself sleeping too much. When you do settle down on a weekend or holiday do you spend most of it trying to 'recuperate' from the weeks work? This is your bodies way of telling you that you are doing too much. When you are sleeping and healing from the previous week are you neglecting others, like a spouse or children? Are they not in need of your presence as well?

Finally, have you ever questioned yourself, however slightly, by saying 'why can't this be over', or some statement to that effect. This is your mind and your body telling you that, yes, you've done too much. As mindful practitioners it's important that we bring awareness to all of our thoughts and evaluate them with openness. It's a cultural tendency to say no, we need to do more, and push ourselves to unhealthy extremes. That notion is unsustainable in the long-term.  

Consider an empty cup. Begin to fill it with water until you reach the just below the brim. You can pick up the cup without worrying about spilling any water. Now, add more water, just to the top of the brim. It's certainly harder to pick up and move around without spilling a drop. Now, what happens when you continue to add more water? It spills over. Perhaps even staining the table cloth. 

Your mind and body are the cup. The water is what ever you do too much of. The table cloth could certainly represent your family and friends. 

One may not pour from an empty cup nor may one have a tidy life with too much bombardment from outside.

Wishing you continued peace and wellbeing,

Vladimir

You are warmly invited to follow on us on Facebook and Instagram at @bluelotuscenter for more ways to improve your mindfulness practice and wellbeing.

Blue Lotus Meditation and Mindfulness Center is a registered 501(c)(3) religious organization.

Website and monthly newsletter: www.bluelotusmeditation.us

For guided meditations and Dharma talks, please visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Facebook

Instagram 

AmazonSmile