“There is only one time that is important – NOW! It is the most important time because it is the only time that we have any power.” – Leo Tolstoy
As the old saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers,” which got me thinking about how our hectic lives prevent us from noticing, appreciating, and smelling those flowers. We become preoccupied with our past and future, feel disconnected in our relationships, act impulsively or mindlessly, or otherwise lose contact with the here and now experience.
When we become entangled in our mind we miss out on life. Although we can’t stop our minds from ‘hooking us’ and bringing us out of the present moment and into our painful past, or telling us scary stories about the future, we can learn how to get back to the present and fully engage in the here and now. This leads to increased life satisfaction and fulfillment.
Here’s a simple exercise that you can use to center yourself and engage with your environment:
1. Pause for a moment.
2. Look around and notice five things that you can see.
3. Listen carefully and notice five things that you can hear.
4. Notice five things that you can feel in contact with your body (e.g. your watch against your wrist, your pants against your legs, the air on your face, your feet upon the floor, your back against the chair).
5. Finally, do all of the above simultaneously.
Practice this exercise throughout the day, especially any time you find yourself getting caught up in your thoughts and feelings. The more fully we can contact our here and now experience, the more effectively we can act and the more fulfilling life becomes!