Fw: MORNING COFFEE

October 19, 2007

We are enrolled in a full time, informal school called, " Life. " Each day of this school, we have the opportunity to learn lessons.We may like the lessons or hate them,but they are part of the curriculum.

The greatest lessons we learn are about love and fear,that every action is either an expression of love, or a call for love.And the great blessing is that every lessonrepeats itself until we learn it.

Mary Morrissey

The Power of the Present

If you like challenges, I've got one for you. For one day, throughout that entire day, keep your attention on thepresent moment. Don't think about anything that happened in the past - and don't think about anything that may

happen in the future. Simply maintain your focus on the now. To make this assignment easier, choose a day that

you're off from work.

Here's what most of you will find if you accept my challenge. You won't even come close to staying in thepresent for a whole day. In fact, you may not be able to remain in the NOW for more than a minute or two.

Your mind will insist on dragging you out of the present so that it can get you thinking about what you have to do

later or what bothers you about your co-workers, your spouse or your neighbor's dog. You're going to learn just how

much control your over-active mind has on your life.

Most people in our society spend so little time being present that it's difficult for them to even understand the concept.

We think that mind activity constitutes being in the present. However, it is only when mind chatter ceasesthat we fully connect with the now.

We connect with the present when we appreciate nature. When you take a walk on the beach, you see and hear the

waves. You feel the warmth of the sun and the sand between your toes. You may notice the color of the water and birds

flying nearby. This is presence. You're not thinking about what to eat for dinner or the tasks you need to accomplish at

work. You're simply observing and experiencing what is in front of you, moment by moment.

You can also be in the present by noticing your immediate surroundings. Scan the room that you are in slowly with youreyes. Notice the chair or couch you are sitting on and how your body feels while sitting. Take a look at the walls and

the furniture - their colors, textures and imperfections. Do you hear sounds? Or is there silence? Can you feel yourselfbreathing and see your chest rising and falling with each breath? Although you may not have been aware of them before,

you can experience these things in the present moment.

Benefits of Living in the Present Moment

At this point, a part of you might be thinking, " Why should I care about the present? What difference does it make? " Let's look at some of the many benefits you'll gain by focusing on the NOW:

1. You'll significantly reduce worrying and suffering in your life. You may think that you have a bunch of problems.If you examine them - all of them - in the light of the present, you will find that you don't have many at all.

No matter what the problem, it causes no suffering or anxiety in THIS moment. Even if someone has a terminal illness,

that person has no problem in the present moment. The suffering or anxiety comes when that information is projected

into the future, by focusing on what may happen months or years from now.

Most financial concerns are also about what may happen in the future - that we won't have enough money. The ego likesto focus on the past and the future - and that is the cause of most of our suffering.

2. You'll be healthier and happier. Fear produces fatigue. When you're worried and stressed, you project your negativethoughts into the future, imagining worst-case scenarios. This places an enormous burden on your body; the discomfort

may show up as a headache, tight muscles in your neck, or an upset stomach.

On the other hand, how do you feel when you look at a beautiful blue sky or a breathtaking sunset? You're livingin the present and putting your worries aside. Think about a time when you were fully engaged in an activity, unaware

of time and totally in the moment. I'll bet you felt fully alive and healthy during that activity.

3. You're more open to intuitive guidance. Let's learn from animals, which in many ways are superior to humans.

Animals flow with nature and follow their instincts. Their minds are not cluttered with negative thoughts and worries.

What makes you think that the same guidance from nature is not available to humans? In fact, it is. Yet we're pre-occupied

with negative thoughts that get in the way of the " signals " nature attempts to send us.

When you live in the present, you will begin to notice that your life flows more easily. Your intuition and creativity are

heightened. The next step naturally reveals itself to you. When you are filled with judgment and anxiety, you are shut

off from the rhythm of life.

How To Live in the Moment

By now, you may intellectually grasp the concept of living in the present. Yet actually staying in the moment is not asimple matter when you've spent decades avoiding it. Here are some steps you can take to increase your connection with

the NOW:

* Become more aware of your body. Be careful here. This isn't about being self-conscious or trying to improve your looks.

You're tuning into the actual sensations of your body, without making any judgments.

Right now, concentrate on your fingers. Can you feel the energy flowing there now? Perhaps you can sense a tingling.Then move down to your toes and feet. We are energy fields, yet we seldom allow ourselves to experience what the body

feels like.

* Spend time in solitude. Noise often distracts us from the present moment. We've become " stimulation addicts " and arelooking for ways to get excited through external objects. With music blaring, cell phone in hand and the TV on in the

background, it's no wonder you have no connection with the present. Your mind is occupied with a dozen other things.

Take a few moments each day to spend in silence, doing nothing. Shut off your cell phone and Blackberry. Justobserve and take in your surroundings. You are teaching yourself to re-connect with the present moment and all the

wonders it can offer.

These suggestions are simply a starting point. You'll have to find your own way to the present moment. One greatresource is the book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (New World Library 2004). You may find parts of the book

difficult to understand (as I did) but the author's insights are profound. If you're ready to change your life in a verypositive way, get acquainted with the present moment. You'll be amazed at what you've been missing.

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