Be here now

In a world full of distraction and confusion don’t forget you have a life right here, right now.

Fear of missing something

Does the thought of switching off the news or social media for a day or two fill you with some sort of anxiety? – Fear of Missing Something Important, perhaps? Have you actually tried it?
I have to admit the first thing I do in the morning is check my phone for updates on the latest situations worldwide and locally. I spend far too long browsing my phone through the various media channels – in the hope of staying abreast current affairs, but like many – perhaps at the expense of mental health.
The past is gone, it can’t be changed – but our perception of it can be. We must make peace with what has gone before.
The future holds an infinite number of possibilities. Some of those possibilities we have no control over. How we react to them, however, is a different matter. In this ever-confusing world where the media direct our attention from one catastrophe to another, we must remember that there may actually be a positive outcome. Where fear overwhelms us there leave no space for love and hope.

Be Here Now

The only way out is to bring ourselves back into the present. This very moment. Right here, right now. When all is said and done, that is all there is.
The study and application of both yoga and meditation have been key, for me, to enabling that inner focus to the here and now. Starting with focus on the physical body with the breath enabling that mindful focus. Bringing the minds attention to a still-point using visualisation or maybe mantra. Eventually allowing that focus to expand to a timeless, formless, infinite space where all possibilities are equal.
Being present in the here and now also means spending time with loved ones, being totally present – leaving the phone at home if you’re out and about (if you need to check your phone whilst at the beach, for example, maybe you’re missing the point?). Being mindful in all daily activities increases peace within – a sense of joy if you like. That sense of joy can be found anywhere and, in any situation, where mindful attention is applied. Breathe. Focus. Live.

Breathe, Focus. Live.

Be here now – it’s all there is.