The Art of Being:
Living in the Present Moment

"If you want to be happy, be." Thoreau told us.
It sounds so simple, doesn't it? But how, in our busy, non-stop world do we become more of a human BEing and less of a human DOing? How can we slow down and enjoy the 'precious moment', the gift of NOW, and still accomplish all we need to do? How do we bring spirit, the awareness and presence of love, into the matter and movement of our lives?

Zen practices, 'A Course in Miracles' and other spiritual teachers tell us that to live fully in the moment we must slow down the busyness of our minds. In particular the guilt, resentment, over-analysis of the past and the anxiety, fear, over-planning of the future: 'What should I or could I have done then; what would I do if...; What will I do when...?' Pulled so strongly by the past and by the future, it is no wonder we find it hard to be here now.

So, take a breath - stop what you are thinking and doing - simply breathe deeply and fully for a few moments. In through the nose and out through the mouth, breathing into your tummy.


In simplicity,
with problems put behind us,
we may walk in joy.

Allow yourself time
to be still and look around:
to see and to be.

Conscious breathing is one of the greatest healing tools we have - and it's free! Use your breath to wake up, to increase your awareness and improve your well-being. Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk and teacher, has a wonderful breathing practice:

Breathing in - I calm my body
Breathing out - I smile
Present moment (on the in-breath)
Wonderful moment (on the out-breath)

The shortened version of this is:

In,
Out,
Now,
Wow!

 

This 20 second practice can bring us into the moment, restore balance, remind us to smile (a sense of humour is another great free healing tool!), and yes - change our lives!

Whilst training as an Interfaith Minister we were required to write anchor prayers or practices to bring us into the moment and help us stay connected to the source of love (whatever that was for us - God, Yahweh, Allah, Buddha-Nature, Goddess, the Cosmos, The Beloved, Life....). My version of a breathing practice became:

Breathing in - I remember (God/that I am loved)
Breathing out - I surrender (stop struggling and relax into the arms of love)

In - Remember
Out - Surrender

Each morning I wake
I lovingly give my thanks
for another day.

I invite you to try it for yourself, right now. Notice how you are feeling within your body. Breath out your tensions and open your awareness; be aware of how your body is, and be aware of your surroundings. Accept how you are feeling, that is the way it is. Accept your surroundings, that is the way they are. Simply accept. Surrender your judgements for these few moments and truly experience your life - right now.

This anchor practice served to remind me of the power of love in the present moment, helped me to release that which I no longer needed and increased my ability to trust.

Breathing is something that we all do, every day, all day - if we choose to pause and take some conscious breaths we improve our health and increase our happiness.

 

What else can we do throughout the day to bring us into the present? Below are some of my daily practices. I I invite you to read them and choose one or two to practice today. You might like to adapt one to suit your lifestyle and make it your own:

  1. On waking - Smile, and give thanks for the day. To help you remember to do this you can place beautiful flowers or a picture of a smiling face where you will see them on awakening.

  2. Washing - Make your morning shower a cleansing ritual - a washing away of fatigue, negativity and past clutter. Enjoy the sensation of the water on your body. Sing yourself awake!

  3. Driving - I give thanks for all I see - that bush in bloom, those trees, the light on the hills, the couple holding hands, the red lights to slow me down!

  4. Meeting people - Every meeting can be a 'holy encounter'. Every person you meet ~ clients, neighbours, shop assistants, the bank manager ~ everyone is an opportunity for you to practise loving kindness and appreciation. In each person you find your Self or lose your way.

  5. Phone ringing - This can be regarded as a wake-up call: use the sound as a reminder to take a conscious breath, let go of what you are doing and prepare to communicate with another soul.

  6. Eating, drinking, walking, washing your hands ~ all things can be done mindfully; engaging all the senses, enjoying the moment

For me, it is a question of practice - joyful practice! When I began I 'remembered' for maybe 5 minutes in every 24 hours. I am still a beginner ~ after 15 years I remember now for maybe 15 minutes in every day!

We need things to help us. Muslims are called to prayer 5 times a day. In some Buddhist communities a bell is rung on the hour to remind the members to come into the present moment. What can we do?

I wear a small heart with a bell inside - each time I hear it I am reminded of the presence and healing power of love. You may wear a watch that beeps on the hour - use it to take a conscious breath. You may post affirmations on your fridge, desk or bed-side table to remind you. See if you can find some visual or auditory reminder to bring you into the Here and Now.

I sit by the lake:
in stillness, with a calm mind
I begin to see.

The photographs and haiku throughout this article were taken and written by me in an 'awakening' time of my life during 1989 (a haiku is a Japanese poem with 17 syllables on 3 lines, written in a 5-7-5 format).
I spent many happy hours walking and meditating in nature, being with what was and responding with haiku ~ a spontaneous poem of praise, thanksgiving, reflection or realisation.

We, in Cumbria, are blessed with an abundance of nature. Next time you go for a walk, instead of taking your worries/talking/peak-bagging/rushing to a goal - why not simply BE in nature? Breathe in the air, feel the weather, hear the bird song, taste the rain, smell the earth, see the beauty and BE a part of it.

Enjoy....

Susanna Michaelis

 

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