In today's episode Becky and Kristen dive into what it means to be in the moment. Mindfulness helps you to feel more at ease and at peace. It helps offset anxiety and depression. Being present is something that requires practice. If you don’t have an intention to be present then it’s natural that you won’t be. We all have these brains that don't want to be present. They want to fix the future or dwell on the past - all in an attempt to protect us from the pain of making mistakes or getting hurt.
Thinking about the past leads to depression and what can never be again. Anxiety is about the unknown of the future. The only true reality is what is happening now. We need to accept things as they are. We try to control too much. We don’t have a time machine so we can’t go back in time to fix things. And we don’t have control over what happens in the future. We can just let things be.
Here are a few ways to stay present, even in the holiday chaos:
If you notice you are not present then stop and anchor in. How am I feeling? Breathe! You can’t breathe for the past and you can’t take extra breaths for the future. Is there a smell around that can help you get present? Do a body scan. See how you’re feeling. If you feel a tightness, breathe into it. Ask yourself what is going on. Tell yourself, “It’s okay; I am here with you.” Your brain cannot process your feelings. You have to feel it in your body.
Julia Cameron says to wake up and write three whole pages of whatever is going on in your brain. Nothing that comes up is off-limits. This is a really great way to connect to your feelings. Later when your brain wants to bring things up you cal tell yourself, “We already addressed this; it’s okay.”
Visualize your daily goals every morning when you’re first waking up. Go through what you want the day to look like, no matter what lies ahead (or how bad the night before was). Becky doesn't sleep well so her avatar is tired but happy. “I’ve been tired before and I’ll be tired again - let’s have a great day anyway.”
Take a nature walk. When you’re walking mindfully you walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet with each step. You feel the earth supporting you. You can feel gratitude for this beautiful earth and for being a part of it.
When you live in the present you are in a meditative state. If you want to live in a zen way then being connected to God or to your higher power will help you to feel calm and grounded. This is the key to peace. Meditation, prayer, journaling, hiking - all gets us into the zone of being whole and present.
Accept what is as though you asked for it. Progress over perfection. This is a way to get to know and love yourself better. Do the best you can and don’t be mad at yourself if it’s difficult to be present. We’re just looking for 1% improvement each day. You can do this!
Julia Cameron, “The Artist’s Way;” Thich Nhat Hanh, The Father of Mindfulness; Eckhart Tolle, “The Power of Now;” How to live in the present moment (Positive Psychology article)
