Weekly Soul - week 22: The Present Moment (Craigie)
Today's meditation from Weekly Soul: Fifty-two Meditations on Meaningful, Joyful, and Peaceful Living by Dr. Frederic Craigie.
-22-
Stay in the
present moment. That’s where you’ll find life’s magic… Sometimes to stay in the
present we need to visit the past, to clear out an old feeling, to heal an old,
limiting belief. But that visit can be brief. And sometimes we need to think
about the future- to make commitments, to plan, to envision where we want to
go. But to linger there can cause unrest. It can spoil the moment we’re in now.
Melody Beattie
It is honorable
and often spiritually enriching to be in the present moment, but this is
balanced by compelling reasons to visit the past or envision the future.
Recently, I
enjoyed a lovely evening bike ride along the Rillito River next to our seasonal
home in Tucson. For people who haven’t lived in the desert southwest, “river”
means a dry wash that occasionally has flowing water if there is enough rain or
snowmelt.
I found myself
observing my own flow of thoughts. At times, I was very much in the moment,
seeing the stunning beauty of the range of Catalina Mountains in the setting
sun, experiencing the sensations of riding in my legs and arms and being aware
of feeling blessed to be where I was, with the dear people who are in my life. At
other times, I was aware of having ridden a couple hundred yards and having no
recollection of doing so. I was mentally somewhere else, thinking about the
next teaching session, the task list, and whether or not the Red Sox have
enough pitching to make the playoffs again. Observing my thoughts in this way
prompted the question of when it’s appropriate to be in the moment—to be
present to our current experience—and when it is not.
I am reminded of
two thoughtful 2016 commentaries in the New
York Times Sunday Review, making the case that there are good reasons
sometimes not to be in the moment.
World-renowned
psychologist Martin Seligman (“We Aren’t Built to Live in the Moment,” May 19)
cites brain and social science research in making the case that for most
people, thoughts frequently turn to future possibilities, and that this
tendency is innate and beneficial. Seligman suggests that, more than “Homo
Sapiens” (“wise man”), our species could be more aptly called “Homo
Prospectus,” in recognition of the central human role of considering future
prospects. Your attention is well directed if you consider future options on a
meaningful career path or, indeed, what else you’ll need for tonight’s taco
salad dinner with Pat and Bob.
Journalist Ruth
Whippman (“Actually, Let’s Not Be in the Moment,” November 26) presents a more
philosophical argument. She suggests that that some present moments just aren’t
very compelling (“I’m making a failed attempt at ‘mindful dishwashing’”) and,
more notably, argues that a focus on mindfulness can be an indulgence of
material comfort and security that skirts around real sources of suffering:
So, does the
moment really deserve its many accolades? It is a philosophy likely to be more
rewarding for those whose lives contain more privileged moments than grinding,
humiliating or exhausting ones. Those for whom a given moment is more likely to
be ‘sun-dappled yoga pose’ than ‘hour 11 manning the deep-fat fryer.
So, when may it
be helpful or meaningful to immerse ourselves in the present moment? (I’m back
now; sorry, I was daydreaming for a few minutes.)
- In
suffering, as we have discussed.
- In
awe. Years ago, I remember the comment of a dear sister-in law that, in
our culture, we too often rush to take photographs of things that inspire
awe, rather than experiencing them.
3.
The world is filled with majesty, large and small; beholding
the vastness of the Grand Canyon for the first time, seeing your child pulling
herself up to a standing position, being greeted joyfully by your dog even
after you’ve left him at home for eight hours. (It’s beneath the dignity of
most cats to show such reactions.), looking at the moon and knowing that people
have been there, seeing the resilience of a man who has been though unspeakable
horror in his home country to seek asylum in America, and is ready and willing
to make a positive contribution to his new home. The list is endless.
4.
In awe, being in the present moment means to pause
to really experience such majesties and let them form as images in your soul.
- With
other people. How often have you been in a conversation with somebody else
and found them focusing somewhere past your left shoulder? Not good. Being
present to people honors them and, really, honors us all because it
affirms the richness of humanity that is lived in relationships with other
people. If you’re in a conversation you don’t like, learn some assertive
skills to change the subject or make a graceful exit.
- As a
discipline. Finally, I suggest practicing being present: cultivating, by
practice, the ability to be present. Pick a regular time… pick a random
time… and just be where you are and be open to your experience. What do
you see? What do you hear? What do you feel? What do you observe going on
in your body? Your mind? You may become an explorer of majesties yet
unknown.
So, may you
invite your attention and your heart to the past, the future and to the present
moments of your life in mindful ways that bring joy and honor to your unique
journey.
Reflection
- Think of Beattie’s comment
that there are good reasons to visit the past or the future, but “to
linger there can cause unrest.” How would you put into words what makes
your attention to the past or future meaningful and enlivening, rather
than wasteful or demoralizing?
- And what is the flip side of
this question; when do you think
it is important to be in the present moment?
- In the coming week, experiment
with intentionally visiting the past or the future as you would want to be
doing. Notice what this is like. Then, gently bring your attention and
your heart back to who you are, right now.
Author
Melody Beattie (b. 1948) is an American writer of books and other resources for self-help and personal growth. She is most widely recognized for popularizing the idea of “co-dependency,” in which people fall into addictive, caretaking relationships with other people who are troubled and needy. Beattie knows whereof she speaks. She was sexually abused as a child, had developed serious problems with alcohol and other drugs by her middle and high school years, and had several arrests for drug-related offenses. A moment of spiritual awakening set her on a road to recovery, but she faced further struggles dealing with an alcoholic husband and with the tragic death of her 12-year old child in a skiing accident. She began writing, drawing out her passion for how people can come to understand and move beyond addictive relationships. Beattie has now published over a dozen books, most notably her 1986 bestseller, Codependent No More. The quotation comes from Journey to the Heart (HarperSanFrancisco, 1996).
Book Description:
Keywords:
meditation; reflection; inspiration; miracles; aliveness; purpose; laughter; joy; presence; mindfulness; activism; acceptance; gratitude; forgiveness; creativity; civility; hope; affirmation; wholeness; well-being; mental health; personal growth; transformation; inner peace; personal reflection; joy; joyful living; inspirational quotes; inspirational commentary
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