“And now, back to the present.” (An acknowledgement here for any who thought, “And now for something completely different,” as the Monty Python famous quote.)  Except, ‘Now’ is pretty much something completely different for me and perhaps for you too.

As a happy ‘Creative’ I would spend most of my time imagining even better futures.

As an unhappy ‘Creative’ I would take refuge in memories of happier times in the past, and then wishing for their return. In a strange way, I was a captive of both future and past.

In both states, I was missing out on the power of the present (did you think I was going to say, “Gift of the present,”?)  I say, “power,” because I’ve been reading (and trying to understand) “The Power of Now,” for the first time. This classic by Eckhart Tolle has helped multitudes enjoy Life in the present by becoming more present in the present.

I don’t think I or anyone else really needs to understand the book to benefit from the conscious awareness it advocates. Eckhart Tolle suggests your mind and my mind can’t understand what the book is really saying because it is, “beyond mind.” He also suggests that the ego as a perception of the self is very unhelpful and disempowering.

Instead, he offers ‘Being’ as the model for your authentic, genuine self. Ego is something constructed by the mind. Both mind and ego can make good servants, but when they want to run the show, trouble follows. I believe we all know what it’s like to have a mind that will not shut up. When we confuse the mind with ourselves, we say, “Of course, it won’t shut up; it can’t shut up; it’s me.”

Eckhart begs to differ. He points to the experience of us being observers of our own thoughts. Clearly, what we are is beyond our thoughts if we can observe them. Mindfulness, I’m certain, would agree.

How am I benefiting from these meditations? I am reminding myself, “I am not my thoughts.”

This reminded me of the important wisdom, “My past is not my potential.” Our past informs us but I no longer believe it defines us – we can change, grow, evolve.

Most importantly, I’m spending more time in the present – for that’s the only reality. I’m more of a tourist here at the moment because it is an unfamiliar place to me, but it’s rather wonderful.

Here, in the moment, I can truly taste the layers of sophistication in my morning coffee… with cream. The temperature makes a difference, and the further I’m exploring the depths of the mug, even the heat of the coffee makes breathing more pleasant. And now there’s the scent…

Now, in the present, I am grateful for learning to touch-type, which enables me to type ‘without thinking’ – I’m simply here, thinking of you as I write this – I am writing to you. I am also grateful for a screen bright enough and sharp enough to be easy for my less than perfect vision to use without glasses.

Today, right now, let’s be here now. And when we go visiting the past or the future, let the Observer, the Director, and Architect in you bring you gently back to the Now – there’s power in it.

Lex

A Moodscope member