A friend of mine recently told me about a book entitled, The Tao of Daily Life, which spoke eloquently about being in the present instant instead of the present moment as most other spiritual text refer to. Present instant really spoke to me because it captures the feeling I have had for years now that everything happens so swiftly in life. Both the good and the so-called bad is here and gone in an instant.
If I can put my attention on this very instant, I can find joy and peace and even understanding about my entire journey. This instant my home is warm despite the frigid temperature outside. In this instant, I feel loved. In this instant, I feel prosperous as all of my needs and wants are being met. Moreover, I feel that I also am meeting all the needs and wants of my daughter in this instant.
It is only when I project into the future that I feel any unrest. What is the point of worrying about the future? The future may never even materialize as no instant is promised (let alone a day.) It is not my intention to be esoteric about this issue. I am just wanting to capture this internal knowing I have that things are constantly shifting, changing, transforming, fluctuating, metamorphosing and renewing (myself included).
For a moment tonight, I found myself thinking ahead to the future and wondering, "What if?" What if I never remarry? What if my current feeling of contentment wanes?
My response to these questions was two-fold. First, I immediately told myself to focus on this instant. My second response was, "So what!" It really just "ain't that deep." There is no question that I will love and be loved. I really do not doubt that to be true. So what else really matters?
There will be many times in my remaining lifetime (how ever long that may be) that I will love, feel contentment and be loved. And there will likely be many times I feel other than those feelings.
It just is.
4 comments:
It is what it is! It be what it be! I learned a few years ago that stretching my thinking into the future was a pointless exercise in futility. "Stretching" myself was "stressing myself" and I had to force myself to stop. Many of the things I imagined would BE, especially the so-called "bad" things, never materialized. I was wasting precious time and energy and making my spirit sick. I spend my time now, counting my blessings and leaving my spirit open to all of the glorious possibilities and miracles that life has in store for me,--even the so-called "bad." These "bad" things, these challenges, have made me bigger, better, stronger!
ka:
"Stretching myself was stressing myself." Well said. I will have to remember that line when I find myself engaging in that pointless exercise called worry.
I tried this approach some years ago. It didn't work for me. I felt like I was setting aside my God given gift of the power to create. The approach helped me to handle change and rough times very well but left much to be desired.
Granted, there could have been some loopholes in my understanding of the process. However, in my drifting thoughts about the human experience, I always conclude that there is something about living and human life that spirit desired for us to have manifested in these forms. For all the flaws, we as humans have, we are an experience, in time and place for a reason.
While I try my best to remember that I have access to all that is, for I am what it is - I can't say that I would trade the tears I cried this afternoon for the lack of feeling what provoked them. For me, one of the most beautiful things in life is remembering the beginning of each story. Rembering when I joyfully desired an experience and allowing myself to feel the fullness of its presence.
Much LOVE, RESPECT, and ADMIRATION!
jl
jl:
It's very interesting, you noted you tried this process at times when you were going through a change or a rough time. I wrote this blog when I was trying to make sense of a significant change in my life. Hmmm.
As always, your comments give me food for thought. Please know how much I value your input.
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