“Life is available only in the present moment.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
We believe by reflecting on the past in some ways, we can re-live those moments that gave us the greatest satisfaction, happiness, peace, joy, tranquility, rewards, serenity and love. Yes . . . memories may offer solace, grace, warmth and comfort to a certain degree, however, it is only in the present moment and the reality of this breath that life exists for each of us. You might even think of it as living in consciousness from one breath to the next. Of course, we never think of our lives in those terms and it is rather shocking to shift our perception in that way. However, the past is gone, the future has not arrived . . . we have only this moment. In essence, we create our own realities. We have all known people who live in the past . . . and those who choose to project their thoughts into the future, never looking into the present moment. Why? Is it too painful to exist in the consciousness of the present moment? For some individuals, the response is an quite affirming . . . yes. As suggested in The Science of Mind, “Your thoughts are things that create the conditions of your life. Choose your thoughts wisely, for you are the architect of your happiness. You are always building walls or gardens, opening or closing off to life.”
Connecting with that stillness within can be daunting to many people, who have never experienced that peace which passes all understanding. However, the simple truth is . . . in order to connect with others in a meaningful way, we first must learn to connect with ourselves in the present moment. Dr. Bernie Siegel has a rather uncomplicated manner of suggesting a step in the right direction, “When one eliminates intellect, thinking, and words, the truth becomes apparent.”
Believe it or not, we can choose happiness and living in the present moment of consciousness. We have learned to busy ourselves so masterfully that coming to terms with this present conscious moment and breath, is pushed aside for another day . . . which may never come. By facing this moment of now frightens many people . . . yes that’s right . . . frightens. The reasons can be counted in the millions, or simply stated by Michel de Montaigne . . . “A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.”
As the journey evolves, it brings to each of us what is needed to expand this experience we call life. We can choose to push back the veil of illusion and become introspective to what presents itself consciously, or we can busy ourselves with the non-substantive cacophony of stuff, things, appointments, schedules, awards, remuneration, accolades, promotions, degrees and success. Which will it be? There really is no right or wrong answer, just the conscious one which Oscar Wilde states . . . “The final mystery is oneself. When one has weighed the sun in the balance, and measured the steps of the moon, and mapped out the seven heavens star by star, there still remains oneself. Who can calculate the orbit of his own soul?” JLR