Wanna be free? Never have a problem ever again? Free of all suffering and stress and anxiety? Love every single moment of your life?
Grab a cup, but gird yourself because it’s a bold idea and you might dislike some of it.
Here’s how:
There are zero problems here, now, in this moment. Honestly. All your suffering vanishes – all of it – when you fully immerse yourself in the presence of Now.
This is a huge idea – and as I said, your mind may hate it – but it doesn’t make it un-true.
Let’s investigate: Assume this moment is the only moment there is. Get super present, be aware of now. Be innocent and fresh. Drop all expectations, insistences, resistances and just meet this moment face to face, as it is. Truly tune in, give your whole being to this moment in time.
What else does your experience of now need?
Nothing. It is full, rich, complete. Now requires nothing, there is nothing wrong … when you are fully here.
Your mind may still rebel.
It may try to negate your experience of now, saying “yes, but …”, as in “yes, but … yesterday I was so full of fear/anger/sadness,” or “yes, but … my daughter is very sick in hospital right now and I’m so anxious about her,” or “yes, but … tomorrow I have to have a really tough conversation with my boss and I’m worried about it.”
One of the mind’s greatest tricks is convincing you that the causes of fear and worry and suffering are present, they are very real now. However, your mind is anywhere but here. It is constantly trying to drag you off into some other place and time, and suffering only becomes real when you follow it.
Suffering – overload, overwhelm, reacting blindly – doesn’t happen when you’re fully present. Your mind will tell you that you’re irresponsible and uncaring if you let go of the events and the challenges of all other places and times to experience the one place your life is, the one place you can do anything about – here and now.
Don’t let your mind convince you.
How useful is it when you are worried or stressed about something you can do nothing about? How caring is it when you’re so consumed in a past or upcoming event you can’t be present with the people in front of you? How useful is suffering to you, or indeed anyone else?
It’s not.
A skilful, joyful, compassionate, meaningful and suffering-free life is being able to let go of all other places and moments so you can give yourself fully to what is happening right in front of you. Here is where life is!
Again, don’t get me wrong – in being present I’m not saying ignore your challenges and what you have to do, not at all.
I’m saying truly see what problems are actually here, now, right in front of you. See how your mind wants to removes you from this moment to re-hash a situation that isn’t here. See all this mind stuff and ignore it, instead take a half-step back and be present; be fully alive.
Questions? Let me know!
Arjuna
PS. For the tools and techniques that make being present a doddle?
Here's 108 FREE ways to remember:
https://mailchi.mp/60dbe4ffeccf/freedom-from-thinking-so-much