The Power of Now

Are you present in the present? Of course, you’re physically here. That’s a given. But are your heart and mind living in the beauty of the gift of being alive today? If you’re like me, the answer is—maybe. Some days I feel like I can dwell in the moment with ease. Others, the past and the future command my attention, filling me with regret, frustration, anxiety, even dread. But I have found one powerful tool to reset when I enter these moments—meditation.

Meditation for me started with a minute or two a day. Just a few minutes of releasing my judgments and instead working to expand my heart into curiosity...starting with curiosity about my own thoughts and the limits I am placing on myself. One of my most powerful meditation practices in times of fear or worry is to ask myself what it is I don’t think I can handle, and why.

If you are judging yourself that way, stop right now. Close your eyes. Reflect on what you don’t think you can handle right now, and why you don’t think you can handle it.

No, don’t start judging yourself for judging yourself. Remember, be curious. Listen to the answer.

Examining what gives us one reaction over the other is an early step to healing ourselves within. When we pass judgment about what and why we are feeling, this holds us back. Instead, be curious about why you are procrastinating, feeling blue, or replaying past hurts.

Does it sound hard to be objective about yourself? I know, it is. When our mind gets twisted there isn’t room for expansion of our perspective and more importantly, expansion of our heart. Then we get tight-lipped about our own needs, and tight-lipped with jealousy of others who seem to be achieving what we long for. When in reality, that judgment is what is holding us back from stepping into our higher selves and our reason for being.

Notice I said reason for being, not the things we should be doing. God created us to Be, to enjoy the glory of creation, not to only do and achieve. This place is temporary, remember? So with that in mind, look at another way you can show up in the world. What if you decided you could stop the mental hustle and what if you just go with the flow instead?

What matters is that you are grounded, happy, and healthy, in connection with your higher power. Does your work give you life and energy? If not, why are you sticking with it? Because of the pressure of what success needs to look like? Take the cap off the toothpaste. Let it out, for just a few minutes a day, where you practice suspending your judgments and internal narrative. I promise, you will see the gift and glory of expansion in your heart.

For me, this has manifested most in a reduced obsession with the idea of time, timelines, time frames, and not having time. Because time is really an illusion. The present moment is the only thing that matters—and in the present, we are already fully-qualified to receive every gift, goal, and dream we aspire to.

If you are putting your joy on pause until you are “good enough” to feel it, I have been there with you. And I believe you are worthy of more, and I want to help you nurture yourself to grow that belief as well. It can start with just a few minutes a day—or by reaching out to me to schedule a brief introduction and connect around your goals.