Why lament where I have been? Why reduce the progress I have made otherwise in my life because my body is not doing what it used to do 5, 10 or 25 years ago? If I can be mindful to the present moment, I can recall that “Ah, right now it is like this.” I can make peace with the present moment.
This phrase of “Ah, right now it is like this,” I teach in my mindfulness classes. The mind can have an idea that whatever I am experiencing may go on indefinitely, yet by using this phrase, it is a check-in with the nature of reality in the very moment. This also gives us an opportunity to explore the present. This can be with our thoughts, our emotions or sensations in the body. By using “it’s like this” and not “I’m like this” there is not a personal aspect to it and so we can offer compassionate self-forgiveness.
The offer of compassion in the moment is vital to our psyche. By practicing this, it does not mean that what I experience now will last forever, or maybe it will. Is my peace of mind dependent on what my body does or doesn’t do? Is my happiness dependent on what can be achieved in the world?
It’s a personal endeavor to live my life in correlation to my values, my beliefs and my own life artistry. I can decide how I choose to live and honestly, I am content with my life. I have opportunities for inner and outer growth that I explore as often as possible. Instead of focusing what I do not have (perfect health, perfect body, perfect mind, etc.) I focus on what is right now.
What can I accomplish in the now moment that will bring me liberation from the judgmental thoughts I hold about myself?It is an inner dwelling of spirit that guides my life and allows me to know I am whole. A sense of overall well-being is what I seek and find. This is how I know that everything is as “right as rain.” I do not have to strive, I do not have to force, I do not have to punish myself as to my current status. I believe in me and my inner strength and all that I have accomplished. This is where I am peaceful and well.
As much as we want the outside conditions to change, be it the world, our relationships, our finances, or our own body, it is what is within us that makes us whole and provides the sense of well-being. By accepting what is right now, I can propel myself forward. When I stay focused on what I can’t do then I will do nothing. The question to ask myself and perhaps yourself is, “What can I do for my own well-being today?” Maybe it’s a guided meditation, a short walk or other movement, maybe it’s picking up a book on a topic you have never explored before, cooking a plant-based dish instead of what you usually eat, maybe it is joining with friends on Zoom for a laugh, or seeking out a guide to assist you to get out of the old well-worn path you are on. A slight shift is all that is needed and let today be that day. I know this has worked for me, and I know it will work for you as well.
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