The next time you feel anxious or upset, answer this simple question:
"Where am I?"
And if you're honest, you might find yourself thinking:
"I'm back at that intersection where that guy cut me off. And that jerk flipped me the bird!"
or
"I'm at the meeting tomorrow morning where I'm giving a presentation and I don't have
enough time to prepare and I'm going to get fired and then I won't be able to
afford my mortgage which I can barely handle this month and why the hell did I make
that adjustable rate deal seven years ago?"
or
"I'm, huh? What?"
Right. In the past, in the future. Somewhere else.
The point is. When you ask yourself the question. "Where am I?" It's an opportunity
to pull yourself out of the future, out of the past, out of that unknown dimension and
become fully present. Right here. Right now.
It's amazing how we spend so much time somewhere else. The mind is a skillfull time traveler. And while your mind is zip-zapping in temporal fantasies, your body is simply going through the motions.
As John Lennon sang in "Beautiful Boy"
"Life is what happens to you
while you're busy making other plans"
Take a breath. The only breath you can take is the present breath.
Bring your attention back to your breath and there you are. Back again.
Fully present. Fully conscious. Coherent. Intact.
Yes, sometimes we have to visualize the future as we plan and dream. Yes, we sometimes have to jump back into the past to process what the hell happened, so we're not stuck. And to balance it all off, sometimes, you gotta dance in the moment.
Your life is a dynamic dance. What sights are your eyes taking in? What sound vibrations are you hearing? What conscious positive thought can you wrap around yourself that makes you feel grateful for this glorious moment, this wonderful life.
And maybe, just maybe, the next time you ask yourself: "Where am I?"
You'll smile and say "Right here."
"Where am I?"
And if you're honest, you might find yourself thinking:
"I'm back at that intersection where that guy cut me off. And that jerk flipped me the bird!"
or
"I'm at the meeting tomorrow morning where I'm giving a presentation and I don't have
enough time to prepare and I'm going to get fired and then I won't be able to
afford my mortgage which I can barely handle this month and why the hell did I make
that adjustable rate deal seven years ago?"
or
"I'm, huh? What?"
Right. In the past, in the future. Somewhere else.
The point is. When you ask yourself the question. "Where am I?" It's an opportunity
to pull yourself out of the future, out of the past, out of that unknown dimension and
become fully present. Right here. Right now.
It's amazing how we spend so much time somewhere else. The mind is a skillfull time traveler. And while your mind is zip-zapping in temporal fantasies, your body is simply going through the motions.
As John Lennon sang in "Beautiful Boy"
"Life is what happens to you
while you're busy making other plans"
Take a breath. The only breath you can take is the present breath.
Bring your attention back to your breath and there you are. Back again.
Fully present. Fully conscious. Coherent. Intact.
Yes, sometimes we have to visualize the future as we plan and dream. Yes, we sometimes have to jump back into the past to process what the hell happened, so we're not stuck. And to balance it all off, sometimes, you gotta dance in the moment.
Your life is a dynamic dance. What sights are your eyes taking in? What sound vibrations are you hearing? What conscious positive thought can you wrap around yourself that makes you feel grateful for this glorious moment, this wonderful life.
And maybe, just maybe, the next time you ask yourself: "Where am I?"
You'll smile and say "Right here."
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