What to do when living in the present moment actually sucks? Like I mean really really sucks? Like I mean laying in a hospital bed not able to walk to the loo, sleep a wink or cry anymore tears kind of sucks. (Yuck, was so sick)
I’m a mindfulness groupie girl so I try very hard to live in the present moment. You know, not be stuck in the past or too lost in the future just be in the now (it’s a work in progress let me tell you). So how do you live in the present moment when the present moment is the last place you want to be living sometimes? Like that time I was in hospital.
Then, just when I thought this would always be an exasperating soul searching quest for the illusive enlightening light bulb moment relieving my long suffering pondering (breath), along comes a pretty darn good explanation on my facebook feed. Give it up for Cookie Monster…
Thank you Cookie Monster. U Da Man… er… Monster!
Any thoughts?
mmm .. tricky. Maybe it’s practising mindfulness in other situations and moving the focus away from the hard stuff, like when you are in the shower … just stand and fully experience the lovely warm water flowing down over your head, the scent of soap, water trickling down your face. Another one could be a walking mindfulness, a lap of the house in mindfulness mode. Perhaps honing your skill on the ‘small stuff’ will create a habit, a perspective, a response that will become part of you over time…
Peace
M
Or mindfully eat cookies! Thanks Majella 🙂
I was in the process of reading through one of my meditations when your post arrived. The following exerts popped out as I was reading through and your words were popping into my head.
The wind is hallowing loudly around the house, so go stand in the wind and let it cleanse you and take away all of the old thoughts that keep coming back to haunt you.
At the end of the day,
you are here because you want to change your life.
In order for your life to change, you have to change yourself.
It is time to look at things differently.
See things as easier,
not always the hard slog.
It is time to begin relaxing into life.
You enjoy life.
You embrace life.
Are you pressuring yourself?
Allow simple things to change.
Know that you are making progress.
Tackle one thing at a time.
Don’t try to overwhelm yourself.
Don’t try to change everything in one instant.
A lot of the time that doesn’t work.
It is important to work one thing at a time.
Each new change you make
will bring you more energy,
a new life.
I move forward on a new path.
I am releasing the stored anger from my body.
I am able to manage my anger easily.
I am back in control of my life.
I am in control now.
I am strong.
I am strong and healthy.
I am vibrant.
Changing this simple thought pattern can change your inner strength
It is time for the conscious mind to take back control
rather than the subconscious mind ruling.
The ego sits within your subconscious.
Again, it is about coming back to living in the now,
living in this present moment,
letting go of any fears associated with the past.
I embrace my future.
I am so looking forward to it.
It is wonderful.
I see clearly all the things I want to do in my life.
I am planning and structuring.
I make my goals come true.
Take the light from Cookie Monster and bring it into the now.
Love you my dear friend.
Thanks Jo! Love your meditations! Writing, sharing and releasing thoughts is proving to be quite healing. Love ya back x
Well said Jo!
Yeah, I think that sometimes the proponents of “living in the moment” can forget how important it is to dream about the future, maybe one that is a little better than the now.
Yes, a daydream or two have got me through on occassions 😉
If I’m not enjoying the present moment I suck in a deep breath and then eat a block of chocolate. 🙂
Ha ha, Hi Bec! I have a son who does the same. x
Hmmm…. I’m not great with being present or living in the moment but it’s something I need to work on (have a blog post about it for tomorrow in fact). I’ve tried meditation and do yoga, but…. *sigh*
Patience and practise, so they say. Good for you giving the yoga a go! 🙂
In order to survive the madness of parenting 3 kids very close together while continuing to work I have had to not live in the moment, instead thinking ahead a few hours til they were in bed… I do enjoy time with them.. usually!! Thanks for linking 🙂 xx
Oh my god yes all the forward thinking that comes with parenting, stealing moments of quiet where you can 😉
I’ve also wondered about this very same thing.
I hope this doesn’t sound too wanky but when the present moment really sucks for me I consider how much worse it must be for refugees, displaced, terminally ill, etc. Whatever the situation is, it’s never as bad as what others are going through.
Hi Mark!
Doesn’t sound wanky at all. I think it often becomes a fine line between acknowledging our feelings while being honest with ourselves and also finding some sort of perspective like you have touched on. 🙂
That is a hard thing to imagine but I’m with Mark above. No matter how dire my situation, I am always conscious that it is a hell of a lot worst for others.
But I’m also with Cookie!
Cookie Monster does make a good point 😉
And yes, the amount of times Doug and I have muttered (and seen the people with our own eyes) those very words “This is shit, but somewhere out there someome is doing it a lot worse than us”.