Already, November 28th!! In less than one month, it will be after Christmas already. I have been really busy lately, hence, my staying away from writing and I really miss it. My mind has been going in circle trying to find solutions to problems that should not be complicated but it seems that people around me insist on making them complex.
I have then been trying to meditate more and thinking less. Have you ever noticed that we think way too much and that it is by taking a break from thinking that we find solutions? Most of the time, we do think too much on the premise that thinking will bring an answer, will relieve the anxiety that inhabits some of us.
A good way I found to stop, or at least slow down my thinking and get a beak is by the practice of mindful breathing. If we can find some time, even only a few minutes to stop, sit and just breathe, we feel a sense of calm and peacefulness descend upon us. We feel restored and relaxed. The practice of mindful breathing helps us with the realization that we are alive now, in the present moment, and that we cannot change the past or stay focused on something that happened earlier in our journey. It is not better to spend our time worrying about the future. It will be what it will be. Once you know you have done your best, you have to be confident that everything is as it should be, right now, and the future will take care of itself. Right now is the only moment. Mindful breathing helps us get in touch with our life with the here and now, with the present moment.
This is not to say that thinking is not important but quite a large amount of it is useless. All these thoughts that are filling our heads block our creativity. By thinking and trying not to forget anything, we create a sometimes subtle but constant anxiety that impedes clear thinking and the flow of inspiration. Do you hear that tape running in your head constantly? These words, these thoughts, these feelings and opinions, that are so difficult to stop… Whether day or night, we think and think and it is difficult to stop. We cannot only press a button to bring them to a halt. Going back to mindful breathing and slowing down the thinking, observing our thoughts, all help to bring the pressure down and to get back to living today in the here and now.
It is unnecessary to worry about the future and useless to regret the past. We must find a way to enjoy the present moment. It is the only reality. We must smell the air, feel the tickle of the wind on our skin, enjoy the beauty of the flower, develop our awareness of our physical being as well as our spiritual being.
There is a way to breathe consciously and be in the present moment. We can say “In” when we inhale and “Out” when we exhale. The fact that we are using words to ground us helps us to be aware of our breathing and slow the thinking, since saying these words are not thinking. When you start to practice this conscious breathing on a regular basis, you are able to calm down is any situation and you are able to see what is going on around you without getting upset about it. After a “conscious breathing session” , even a short 5 minutes sometimes, we feel refreshed, we feel like ourselves again we are in touch with ourselves and see the world for what it is. We can then experience the peace and pleasure of knowing that we are breathing, we can see and feel what is around us with a fresh look, with a fresh awareness. We can face the world without fear and with openness, ready for new experiences. The past is gone, the future is not here yet. Now is the only moment.
If we are not able to go back to ourselves and be in the present moment, we cannot be in touch with life. I strongly believe that most people live that way, running through their lives, anticipating the future, thinking about the past, wanting to be where they are not.
We must try to experience this kind of awareness every day. The more we practice this slowing down, breathing and awareness, the calmer we will become, the more we will be able to enjoy life and experience our great adventure, the pleasure to be alive.
Each moment is precious. We have to try to live each moment in awareness.
