If you would like to become a more active participant in co-creating your life, present moment or now awareness is the KEY.
Our everyday thinking is typically to our disadvantage, unless we begin to tether ourselves to the present. In order to effectively create from the moment, we must actually be aware of it.
You may be thinking, “My mind is all over the place and I have too much to do everyday to think about the present moment.” If this is you, you are, most likely, the person who needs this the most.
Here are five easy tips you can use TODAY for a more aware you:
1. Witness Mindset-
About six years ago, I started to notice number patterns (i.e. 11:11 on the clock) everywhere I looked. When these numbers started to make frequent appearances, I googled them in hopes of relieving the freak-out-factor feeling that was beginning to creep up on me. To my surprise, there were entire websites, forums, and theories devoted to people who see number patterns.
After perusal of this new information, I clicked into the theory that most worked for me. When these patterns appear in my consciousness stream, I choose to monitor my thoughts. I now become the witness to the thought train that is currently presiding over me and I question it,
“Is this a thought that is serving me, or anyone else right now?”
If you aren’t into or aware of numbers patterns, choose something else that you notice frequently throughout the day- use it as your trigger to become present.
2. Mantra/ Prayer-
Mantra or prayer repetition is an effective way to stave off your current trail of negative thinking. It is effortless to repeat these comforting words in your head during stressful, or non-productive thought moments.
When I become aware of my overactive thinking mind searching for a new problem, or focusing on an old one, I can immediately drop down into prayer or mantra mode.
Eknath Easwaran does a lovely job of discussing mantra and prayer for a quieter, healthier mind and lifestyle. You can view my recommended reading tab above for his book on meditation which discusses mantra repeptition- how to’s and benefits- in greater detail.
3. Breathe-
Most of us do not breathe properly as we begin our progression out of childhood. The stress of living creates shallow breath, and other improper breathing patterns.
I am constantly having to remind myself to breathe properly- and sometimes even to breathe at all- in particularly stressful situations. The good news is that with continued practice and focus on breath, you can begin to retrain yourself back to early childhood breathing for added vitality and health; benefiting all systems of the body.
Breathing into the moment can completely change your perspective on any given situation in an instance, and it can create a more thoughtful approach to yourself, and to others.
4. Listen-
I mean really LISTEN. More than half of the time someone is speaking to us, we are trailing off, or we are thinking of our own responses and agendas. BECOMING a master listener is an art form takes a great deal of practice, especially in this world today when we are being distracted at every turn. Great listeners not only deepen their connection with others, but they also become acutely aware of more information and nuances that make them effective and charismatic communicators.
Those of us that tend to be half-listeners miss out.
Even though I have written this as an easy tip, it can actually be difficult for many people to listen attentively, myself included.
5. Meditation-
The mother of all ways to be in the NOW is with practice, practice, practice. Without awareness of your thought patterns, you remain blind to the situations that are presenting themselves, and you might often find yourself feeling stuck or as a victim of life.
Making a commitment to sit every day, even for 3 minutes, will help to cultivate presence. It doesn’t matter if your mind is in battle or racing mode the whole time, eventually it will begin to quiet down.
Just sit down and shut up for a bit each day.
All of these things are always a work in progress. Pick one or two and focus on them for the week. Then see if you aren’t a little more aware of the habitual thought patterns that keep you from experiencing the now.
As you become more aware, not only are you able to create a better future for yourself, but you are also affecting everyone around you by example, and by the positivity you are sending out into the world.
Become your own THOUGHT police.
The time is NOW.
