Hello everyone,
I have recently been reflecting on mindfulness and how to stay present. I wish to share with you nine ways I have found useful to help me remain in the NOW. Hang on a mo, why nine? Well nine is a divine number.
In numerology the number nine has global consciousness; it is a 'humanitarian' understanding the connections and 'oneness' between all of mankind and creation. So I thought it quite fitting to choose nine as a vehicle for sharing what I have learned so far on staying present. Shall we get started then? Ok, in no particular order:
1) I choose NOW - sounds simple doesn't it? But I wasn't really aware of how much I lived up in my head, re-living the immediate or distant past or stressing about what's next until I read a couple of interesting books that enabled me to observe my own thoughts. I'm sure you will have already heard of "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle.
I bought this a few years ago and it took me three or four attempts to read it. I didn't find it an easy read but I persevered and realised that shows the reader a practical way of breaking old habits of the mind and re-centring oneself in the present moment. Later on I stumbled upon an absolute gem of a book called "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz. I may have mentioned this one before. It is beautifully written and heralds from the realms of Toltec wisdom. In it Don Miguel Ruiz talks about the dream state we are all in and about how we can wake up from the dream. There are four main lessons in the book, which are actually four agreements you can make with yourself. You can learn more about it in this video.
Both books enabled me to set my intention towards choosing the present moment.
2) I learn meditation - meditation, a practice found in many countries, cultures and belief systems, enables me to slow down, focus on just being in my body and become more aware of my internal as well as external landscape. I found it hard at first, especially when my mind jumped about a lot like a macaque skipping over hot coals.
Anyway a friend of mine, while we were chilling out at an African music festival in north London, told me about a useful website called Headspace. This is a handy resource where you can find out more about meditation and follow some simple guided meditations, taking no more than 10 minutes. After I discovered this I incorporated this into my lunch breaks at a quiet spot in St. James' Park. It is still a work in progress for me as I do get distracted by my daily routine and don't always make time to meditate! Perhaps I can learn the way of the lion...
3) I practice reiki - I have been practicing reiki for the last three years or so. The act of conducting a reiki healing on myself, friends or family members or sending reiki over distance grounds me in the present moment. Human touch is a powerful, immediate and healing thing as is setting one's own intention.
7) I pray - communing with the Divine for me is having a conversation and I don't have to be in a church or holy place to do that. I can pray anytime and anywhere, offering words and intentions to the Divine presence from my heart. This keeps me connected, present and forever grateful.
8) I meet up with my friends - as a natural, born introvert and only child, I have not always found it easy to socialise, often preferring to be on my own. I am happy in my own company and yet I have chosen to go out, conquer my shyness and make friends. I value my friends - who are my extended family. I have been very privileged to have lived and worked in many countries of our one world and made friends wherever I go. Being in the company of my friends is very grounding. Sharing laughter, cooking good food, celebrating the joys and commiserating over the sorrows or enjoying going out to the theatre, cinema, music festival or seaside trip brings me away from my busy headspace and into my heartspace and firmly roots me in the here and now.
9) I take a walk - this might sound a bit counter-intuitive but I find it easier to be in the present when I'm walking around instead of just sitting down. When I'm walking I am conscious of my feet touching the ground, how my body feels in motion, the breeze on my face, and my awareness increases so that I notice the sights and sounds around me. I don't think we were born to be sedentary beings! Walking is a natural a way of being...and maybe dance-walking is the next evolutionary step? Enjoy it people!
I have recently been reflecting on mindfulness and how to stay present. I wish to share with you nine ways I have found useful to help me remain in the NOW. Hang on a mo, why nine? Well nine is a divine number.
In numerology the number nine has global consciousness; it is a 'humanitarian' understanding the connections and 'oneness' between all of mankind and creation. So I thought it quite fitting to choose nine as a vehicle for sharing what I have learned so far on staying present. Shall we get started then? Ok, in no particular order:
1) I choose NOW - sounds simple doesn't it? But I wasn't really aware of how much I lived up in my head, re-living the immediate or distant past or stressing about what's next until I read a couple of interesting books that enabled me to observe my own thoughts. I'm sure you will have already heard of "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle.
I bought this a few years ago and it took me three or four attempts to read it. I didn't find it an easy read but I persevered and realised that shows the reader a practical way of breaking old habits of the mind and re-centring oneself in the present moment. Later on I stumbled upon an absolute gem of a book called "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz. I may have mentioned this one before. It is beautifully written and heralds from the realms of Toltec wisdom. In it Don Miguel Ruiz talks about the dream state we are all in and about how we can wake up from the dream. There are four main lessons in the book, which are actually four agreements you can make with yourself. You can learn more about it in this video.
Both books enabled me to set my intention towards choosing the present moment.
2) I learn meditation - meditation, a practice found in many countries, cultures and belief systems, enables me to slow down, focus on just being in my body and become more aware of my internal as well as external landscape. I found it hard at first, especially when my mind jumped about a lot like a macaque skipping over hot coals.
Anyway a friend of mine, while we were chilling out at an African music festival in north London, told me about a useful website called Headspace. This is a handy resource where you can find out more about meditation and follow some simple guided meditations, taking no more than 10 minutes. After I discovered this I incorporated this into my lunch breaks at a quiet spot in St. James' Park. It is still a work in progress for me as I do get distracted by my daily routine and don't always make time to meditate! Perhaps I can learn the way of the lion...
3) I practice reiki - I have been practicing reiki for the last three years or so. The act of conducting a reiki healing on myself, friends or family members or sending reiki over distance grounds me in the present moment. Human touch is a powerful, immediate and healing thing as is setting one's own intention.
4) I make music - music has always been a passion of mine since learning to play the recorder and piano while I was a primary school. I subsequently learned the flute at middle school and sang in a school choir, competed in music festivals, performed in school and university orchestras, a singing group and jazz duo, taught music to other pupils and taught myself the guitar. I began writing and performing my own songs in my early twenties, going on to sing in folk clubs solo, as a duo and in a folk band.
Although my music, and various instruments accompanied me throughout my humanitarian aid career, I tended to push it to the background and over the years I felt I had lost touch with a part of myself. In the last 10 years or so I tried to ease myself back into singing first in a church choir and later an urban gospel choir but my constant travelling meant I couldn't commit to regular rehearsals. However I really missed co-creating beautiful melodies and harmonies.
Now I'm rediscovering this creative side of myself again and what a joy it is! A friend of mine, Luc, invited me along to participate in a couple of regular open mic style events at the Larrik Inn, Fulham and at the Anchor Pub in Battersea, so I stepped up and had a go! I've picked up my guitar again, added another instrument (the uke) to my collection and I am re-vamping my repertoire. Whenever I sing or play a note I can only be in the present moment time falls away and I am conscious of the vibrations inside my body and the affect music has on other people. My heart resonates.
5) I care for someone I love - my mum and my aunt have both been coping with health concerns. When someone you love is ill or is struggling with something, this really focusses the mind, body and soul on loving relationships. Spending time listening to them and providing practical physical and emotional support opens the pathway to just 'being there' and enjoying every precious moment.
6) I garden - growing up in the Warwickshire countryside gave me a healthy curiosity for and appreciation of nature and all wildlife. I have always loved plants and animals. I love nurturing plants and growing my own flowers, fruit, herbs and vegetables. Feeling the soil between my fingers, fragile leaves of seedlings, root balls vibrating with life as I plant them out into the ground, literally brings me down to earth! Being with nature and feeling the warmth of the sun on my face, my bare feet on the grass and hearing birdsong reminds me to look around me and really open my eyes to the beauty of creation that is constantly evolving without a care in the world.
8) I meet up with my friends - as a natural, born introvert and only child, I have not always found it easy to socialise, often preferring to be on my own. I am happy in my own company and yet I have chosen to go out, conquer my shyness and make friends. I value my friends - who are my extended family. I have been very privileged to have lived and worked in many countries of our one world and made friends wherever I go. Being in the company of my friends is very grounding. Sharing laughter, cooking good food, celebrating the joys and commiserating over the sorrows or enjoying going out to the theatre, cinema, music festival or seaside trip brings me away from my busy headspace and into my heartspace and firmly roots me in the here and now.
9) I take a walk - this might sound a bit counter-intuitive but I find it easier to be in the present when I'm walking around instead of just sitting down. When I'm walking I am conscious of my feet touching the ground, how my body feels in motion, the breeze on my face, and my awareness increases so that I notice the sights and sounds around me. I don't think we were born to be sedentary beings! Walking is a natural a way of being...and maybe dance-walking is the next evolutionary step? Enjoy it people!
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