pay attention to the present moment

It is only in the present moment that we experience being alive.

Life, in all of its fullness, is happening right now. While our thoughts are sometimes elsewhere, beautiful opportunities and moments are being passed over and lost to the flow of time. And though we cannot possibly fully experience each leaf that falls to the ground, sometimes we get so attached to reaching our goals that we don’t pay attention to the wonder all around us. When we do that, we live in a world that exists only in our heads, while we miss life itself. There is so much to be enjoyed and appreciated that we need to remember to pay attention to the present moment, because it is the only space in which we can experience being alive.

- The Daily Om

be present

("Don't ruin your present because of a past that has no future.")

like it's heaven

the present moment

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

- Gautama Buddha

embrace the change

A lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are. Embrace the change, no matter what it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you're in and take advantage of it.

- Nikki Giovanni 

just one day, today

Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.

- Groucho Marx

focus intensely on NOW

Stress, worry, and anxiety simply come from projecting your thoughts into the future and imagining something bad. This is focusing on what you don't want! If you find that your mind is projecting into the future in a negative way, focus intensely on NOW. Keep bringing yourself back to the present.

Use all of your will, and focus your mind in this very moment, because in this moment of now there is utter peace.

- lessons from The Secret

live today

Tomorrow never comes. There's always a "tomorrow."

Live today.

- overheard

live in the present

Forget the past.

- Nelson Mandela 

keywords 2011

Being Present.

This simple idea is said to be the key to perpetual happiness. Getting better at this one, but, despite knowing better, I still find myself taking the occasional joy-squelching detour into "the past," "the future," or some full-fledged, outrageous, Broadway-worthy drama that is just going on in my head.

2011 keywords

Surrender.

There is a crucial spiritual lesson wrapped in this simple idea. Either you completely trust Infinite Intelligence or you don't trust it at all. You can't half-trust, in much the same way a woman can't be half-pregnant. It's one or the other. 1 or 0. Black or white. If you truly - TRULY - trust Infinite Good, you quickly realize that there is no other option but to completely surrender.

I'm sensing I've made a bit of progress with this spiritual challenge this year. Incredibly, I'm also finding that the more I let go and allow the Universe to gently unfold the next moment of my conscious awareness, the more amazing those present moments become.

be present

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

- Buddha

live a good life

Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.

- Marcus Aurelius

this moment of now

Stress, worry, and anxiety simply come from projecting your thoughts into the future and imagining something bad. This is focusing on what you don't want! If you find that your mind is projecting into the future in a negative way, focus intensely on NOW. Keep bringing yourself back to the present.

Use all of your will, and focus your mind in this very moment, because in this moment of now there is utter peace.

- lessons from The Secret 

quote of the day

The past has no power over the present moment.

- Eckhart Tolle 

We give the past so much power sometimes, yet it only "has power" because we've chosen that it be that way.

so powerful, so powerful

Don't let a mad world tell you that success is anything other than a successful present moment.

- Eckhart Tolle

A "successful present moment" is simply being present for that moment. Of all Tolle's utterances of wisdom, this statement is the most powerful I've discovered so far. Make being present a habit in your life and your life experience will expand exponentially. This guy is my personal Jesus, Buddha, Martin Luther King, and Dalai Lama wrapped all in one.

being present at work

Bringing your presence into your work activities can fill the entire experience of working with new energy and life.

Being present at work begins before we even go to our place of employment. It starts with our intention to bring consciousness into everything we do, including those activities we do for money. Whether you are a secretary who files papers all day, a janitor who cleans the local high school, or a nurse caring for children, there is much to be gained by fully engaging in the tasks at hand. When you decide to bring your presence into your work activities, you may find that the entire experience of working is filled with new energy and life.

quote of the day

Don't let a mad world tell you that success is anything other than a successful present moment.

- Eckhart Tolle

quote of the day

Be where your feet are.

- unknown via Jeff