Living in the present… is, for me, a major feat!
All major World Religions, most self-help programs and logic would suggest that living in the present is the best way to enjoy life and is one of the sources of inner peace. Unfortunately, the author of this blog about serenity is about the furthest from achieving this feat as anyone I know.
I, like most people, find it very easy to sit in a meeting and stress about what work I could and should be doing if it were not for this compulsory meeting. I find it easy to eat breakfast in such a way as to not really remember having eaten it at all… if I even bother to do so in the first place! I know I am not alone in this and it gives me some comfort knowing this is one of the struggles of modern life, and that most of those of us who are aware of the struggle wish it wasn’t the case.
The part of ‘not being present’ that I hate the most is when I talk to others and am not really aware of them as people beyond the role that they can fulfil for me or for my work. Unfortunately, when I am particularly busy this is not only the colleagues I work with, but the many friends and family I meet and often explain away my lack of interest in them as me being “in a really busy patch right now.” At what point did my life get so busy that I worry that talking to my mum on the phone might take up too much of my precious time?
I know there are no simple answers. I am however, reading and attempting to put into practice some practical strategies from a book called ‘The Power of Less‘ by Leo Babauta (2009, New York, Hyperion). Simplicity for me is something I have always attempted to do in terms of my lifestyle and in what I own and buy, but I am discovering just how much of my life is more complex than needed. If you too have a interest in simplicity as a concept or even in just streamlining a bit of complexity in your life, I can highly recommend ‘The Power of Less’ as a book with practical strategies that might help.
Is it helping me, you might ask? Well, I had Kellogg’s Advantage for breakfast this morning if that helps!
I love your honesty and gentle humour. Athena has had a hard time lately living in the present as you may realise after visiting her posts. Today however she sat in her favourite cafe and observed a very simple scene that led to a story/reflection post.
Athena has turned to Buddhism in the 21st century because they have known about all this presence palava for much longer than she has been raging and musing across the universe. She even had a Buddhist retreat at her home recentlylearning all sorts of clever practices to keep the mind monkeys from taking over. But being present is much more than that as you rightly pointed out and underpins all the best spiritual traditions. We need to live our lives as if we are to die today since we do not know the time or place or nature of our death. Buddhists are practical and brave people most of the time.
Yes, you can get very, er, focused, my dear. But you shouldn’t pressure yourself too much to be perfectly present. Dunno who is, really. Just spend a little more time than you’re used to is already good.
Mind you, reading blogs can be a bit of a time waster as well. Not this blog, of course.
Of course not this blog Winam! 🙂 Good point though. Enjoy your weekend.
Sounds good… amazing how much of a time-waster it can be! Hey, you might be interested in one of my writing friend’s blogs at the moment – Beach Blogger (see Serenity Links). She has the right idea, definitely living in the present… difficult to move beyond it when you are cold and struggling to get motivated!
Living in the present. I love the sound of it and I think it is worth making an effort to achieving. I believe I am going to make this my goal for work and life in general. Now to stop wasting time and make the most of the time I have. Step one the TV is now off!