Life in the present moment

  Recently, I read the book Slowing Down to the Speed of Life, How to Create a More Peaceful, Simpler Life from the Inside Out by Richard Carlson and Joseph Bailey.  I was looking for ways to enjoy life more and to minimize my reactions to stress.  The ideas in the book are simple and straightforward.  We basically have two different modes of thought: the processing/analytical mode and the free-flowing mode (some call it flow or being “in the zone”). The processing/analytical mode is great when we have problems needing to be solved, when we need to get organized and make plans, and when we have all the information needed to make a decision.  The problem is that we tend to overuse this mode and overthink things.  We get stuck on a problem when we only have a little information.  We think about how something made us feel and then exaggerate the feelings by trying to analyze and make sense of them. 

  The free-flowing mode is that wondrous state we get in when we lose track of time, get lost in the process, and forget about stresses and worries -- we’re just IN THE MOMENT.  We are all able to be in this mode and certain things help us access it more easily.  Surfing, running, and teaching are some examples where we can’t help but be in the moment.  Gardening, cooking, and hiking are things that help me get into this free-flowing mode and because of this, they are things I truly enjoy doing.

  The book explores these two different thinking modes and argues that all we have to do when we find ourselves stuck in the analytical mode is notice it.  “Oh, there I go again!” we should say to ourselves.  “Oh, I am trying to figure something out in my mind and I just don’t have enough information to do so.  I need to let it go for now.”  They suggest putting problems or challenges “on the back burner” -- let them simmer and await the answers.  They will come to you if you acknowledge you don’t currently know what to do.  They will come to you if you’re willing to relax, let go, and wait. 

  Many examples are given, including from the authors’ personal lives, to help illustrate their ideas.  The book also offers great suggestions to living a healthier, happier, and calmer life relating to your relationships, parenting, work, and leisure time.  While reading the book, I found myself doubting my own abilities to stop from overthinking or to be more in the present moment.  But I caught myself in the act of overthinking/over-analyzing and reminded myself “Hey!  You don’t have all the information.  You need to let this problem go until you know more.”  An example is that we’ve been considering adding extra security to our house.  We’ve considered adding iron bars to our front porch or enclosing the front porch with glass windows and a glass door, making it harder to access the front door.  On my neighborhood walks I’ve been taking note of what other neighbors have and seeing what I like or don’t like.  One day I caught myself thinking about it “windows or iron, windows or iron?” and on and on, until I remembered the book and applied the ideas.  I didn’t have enough information.  I had yet to inquire with contractors.  I didn’t yet know what was possible.  I was getting ahead of myself with my thinking.  And with that I was able to go on and enjoy my walk.  I made a choice to let go of my repeated and unnecessary thoughts.

  The idea of living in the moment and being in the present is not a new one and Slowing down to the Speed of Life is not the first book to write about it.  It is a GREAT idea.  Unfortunately, our society and western lifestyle don’t encourage it.  We argue about what happened yesterday and we worry about what will happen tomorrow. 

  To minimize your stress level and help you live a healthy life, it’s important to do things that help you live more in the moment.  Journal writing can help you get into this free thinking mode, especially if you let your thoughts go and just write.  Positive affirmations are useful when you catch yourself in negative thought patterns.  You can repeat your favorite affirmation over and over again in your mind or by writing it on paper until you are able to let go of those negative thoughts you were caught in.  When using creative visualization, you can do things to help you get into the flow, like meditating, lighting a candle, or concentrating on a positive image. 

  Living in the present is a way of life worth living.  We all want to live healthy happy lives.  Slowing Down to the Speed of Life helps us make the connection to being in the present with being happy and feeling good.

What things do you do to help you get in the 

free-flowing mode and live life in the present moment?

The Magic of Committing to Your Goals

12 things happy people do differently

A friend recently posted this on Facebook.  All twelve are worth reviewing and reflecting on.  Of these things, what are you already good at doing and which ones do you find to be more of a challenge?

#10 spoke to me: Commit to Your Goals – Magical things start happening when we commit ourselves to doing whatever it takes to get somewhere.   

  Have you ever really wanted something and then gone for it and seen it through?  There is something really powerful that happens when you commit to your goals, both short-term and long-term ones.  The reason is that you are committing TO YOURSELF.  Your goals come from a place of desire within you.  They are a reflection of your wants and needs, and also your hopes and dreams.

  The surprising thing is that with your goals you don’t always end up where you thought you would.  Sometimes you think you want something and halfway through the process of getting there you change your mind, meet the love of your life, or life just happens.  That is where the magic comes in.  It doesn’t matter where exactly you end up or if you get the dream, the job, or the man.  Trusting in yourself and what you want and taking action towards it is the part that really matters.  There is much happiness to be found when you do, and even a little magic.

Have you committed to your goals?

Altars - Connecting images to your dreams

  I knew I wanted a garden.  A place outside yet private.  A place I could plant tomatoes in the ground.  A place with a sunny spot to sit. 

  My husband and I were looking to leave our small dark apartment and move into a house with a yard.  Somewhere warmer.  A little bigger.  A house with lots of light.  As we began the process I started collecting pictures from magazines.  Images of garden paths.  A bench surrounded by wild flowers.  Stepping stones leading to a lemon tree.  I bought a candle the color green to reflect the space I so desired and the money it would take to get it.  Once I had enough scenes to evoke my dream I assembled my garden altar.  As this was a shared dream I placed it where both my husband and I would see it every day – above the kitchen table wedged in a corner. I used clear tape to stick my pictures on the wall in a star shaped fashion.  As I found more images I added them in, adjusting and removing existing ones to my liking.  Below the images went the candle and a small potted African violet.  We made a list of “must-haves” and “don’t wants” to keep us focused and on task.  And then we were off!  Without fail, every weekend we went to look for our new place to live.

  Unfortunately, we weren’t the only ones looking. Other people wanted a place to call their own too.  There was competition and it wasn’t going to be easy.  We looked for more than ten months.  It took time, perseverance, and a little luck before we finally found a home that we liked and could afford.  The house was bright and spacious, but had its troubles too. We’d need to have some foundation work done, and all the bedroom walls had a strange texture we’d want to replace ASAP.  But the backyard was ready and waiting to be transformed into the garden of my dreams.  It was more space than I could have imagined.  There was also a big oak tree I’d have to contend with, and in the end, remove. Overall, it was a long process, but a worthy one.

  When I think of that time, I remember returning each Sunday to our tiny apartment exhausted from looking at house after house.  I worried we’d never find the right place.  But then we’d sit down to dinner, light the green candle, and look at the illuminated images.  In those images I found hope.

  

  Now, when I sit in a sunny spot in the garden, I remember my garden altar and feel a great sense of gratitude.  I wanted something and I trusted in that want.  I carried myself through it and to it. 

  Images are powerful and altars are great ways to help you “see.”  They’re incredibly easy to assemble and disassemble.  And they’re also fun to create.  As your life and needs change, so do the images you find yourself attracted to.  Having a designated space for an altar makes it easy to adjust what you include.  Desks, corners, tables, outdoor spaces, even bathrooms, are all suitable spaces to put the images, thoughts, and words of your dreams. 

Looking for inspiration?  Here are several sites to get you started:

Create your own “I have a dream” altar from the Life Journey

Creating an Altar from Build Altars.com