Living in the Now

“As soon as we wish to be happier, we are no longer happy.”- Walter Landon

Since I tend to scare easily, the chance that I would even remotely buy into the 2012 “end of the world” predicament is slim to none.  Of course, I  tend to ponder what my future holds from time to time; I’m still exploring what I want to ultimately do with my life, you know that small matter, and I’m curious to see how my path unfolds, and how my purpose will be brought to light.

                Now, I’ll be honest, contemplation surrounding what the future will bring, can definitely cause some angst-just ask my dentist (I apparently grind my teeth at night, so even in REM, it’s fairly difficult to escape from the stress of life’s transitions). So what if we pretend (because again, I scare too easily) that 2012 really is the beginning of the end for the sole purpose of living in the now? In other words, what if we can adopt the mindset of mindfulness and stay present? Will that decrease some of the anxiety we carry in thinking ahead of the game?  My bet’s on the affirmative.

                Interestingly enough, Europeans may know the answer. They tend to take long siestas during the day in between business hours, and later on in the night, there’s no rush for them to pick up the dinner tab as soon as their plates are clean.  As referenced in the film, Eat, Pray, Love, Italian culture upholds the philosophy of “Il bel far niente,” which translates to “the beauty of doing nothing.” I personally think they got it right, and they probably live in the moment as a result.

“I wish I could learn to savor a meal, a moment, a mantra,” Dr. Linda Karges-Bone posted on her blog, in reference to Italy’s motto. “I want to taste things, not gulp them. See things, not blink past them. Experience emotions, not sit on them.”

If we all surrender to being in the now instead of constantly worrying about what’s to come (especially when sometimes we have no control over certain circumstances anyway), we can hopefully feel more balanced with a greater sense of inner peace.

From a spiritual standpoint, I’d like to believe that we are all exactly where we need to be, moment to moment. In the present moment we have choices; we can choose to forgive those who have caused us pain, we can choose to accept our suffering as a gateway for growth, and we can choose to exude love and compassion towards others.

Laura Fenemore, CEO of Body Image Mastery, LLC , recently posted her own blog on TinyBuddha.com about living in the present. She advocates that by letting go of the outcome you want to achieve, you will find the bliss that comes with being in the here and now.

“We achieve the life we desire when we begin living for the moment, in the moment, and because of the moment,” Fenemore said. “Finding happiness in this New Year will not be an outcome or a result. It is doing; it is being.”