The art of being in the here and now
Our past experiences influence how we encounter and move through life. They have shaped us in the good as well as in the difficult. Yesterday influences today and tomorrow. But our life takes place neither in the past nor in the future, but in the here and now. What was yesterday is irrevocably over and what will be tomorrow is a mental anticipation.
The various spiritual traditions teach us how important it is to keep reminding ourselves of just that: There is only the present moment. Only "the here and now" are real. Becoming aware of this fact sounds simple, but is it really? I have realized for myself, it is much easier to miss the moment and a high art to really be in the "here and now". I take the liberty of saying most of us live past the moment, and I include myself. Why? Because it is what we learn and what our modern lifestyle demands in many ways, with all the attendant consequences for our mental, emotional and physical health.
If you desire to do something sustainable for your mental and holistic health, you should turn to the "techniques" that have been practiced for centuries to explore BEING in its depth: Breathing, Mindfulness, Meditation and Silence.
Are you a person who prefers to approach life rationally and is more inclined towards science? There are enough studies that support how effective these techniques are for our health, because they help to reduce mental and physical stress.
I have been involved with spirituality, various forms of meditation, breathing techniques and alternative therapeutic approaches since 2007. In 2017, I completed a yoga teacher training in India. During this month, I decided to incorporate a daily silent meditation practice into my daily life. This decision required in the beginning a lot of discipline. But this soon disappeared, because I realized how much changed for myself. This personal quest has now lasted five years and is one of the most transformative ever. Not in the sense of a permanently inherent rushing bliss. No. I still feel the tides of life in their full range. Meditation and mindfulness do not mean avoiding life, but rather perceiving and accepting it with a more conscious, mindful presence.
What was allowed to change for me? Today I feel a more pronounced capacity for self-regulation, more serenity in everyday life, a truer connection to myself, a deeper inner peace, and a more genuine aliveness and joy. I meet life with more confidence and less anxiety.
If you hear a voice inside you that keeps whispering softly or loudly: "I need to change something, the stress is eating me up, my health is suffering, is this really the life I want to lead?", take it seriously and decide to slow down. You will see how much it allows you to change.
Recently, I invited another teacher into my life. She is not a spiritual master and not an experienced wellbeing coach. She has not written a bestseller, nor does she have years of meditation and mindfulness practice. But she shows me every day what it means to be in the here and now and to discover the world full of curiosity and trust. Her playfulness and joy are contagious and her innate ability to SIMPLY BE is an inspiration. Her name is Tara and she is my 8.5 months old puppy.