“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.”
-Eckart Tolle, The Power of Now
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What does “word now” mean to you?
For some, it may have a connotation of immediacy. For others, they may be reminded of being in the present moment, not the past or future.
Being present with your own presence is a gift you can give yourself at any time and anywhere in the world. Just think about moments where perhaps you have not been present. Were you scrolling through social media instead of listening to your partner and then they became frustrated?
“Time isn’t precious at all, because it is an illusion. What you perceive as precious is not time but the one point that is out of time: the Now. That is precious indeed. The more you are focused on time—past and future—the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is.”
–Eckart Tolle, The Power of Now
Or, there may have been other moments that you were not in touch with your own internal presence and you made a choice you later regretted. We’ve all been there. Fortunately, we learn from experience.
“Any action is often better than no action, especially if you have been stuck in an unhappy situation for a long time. If it is a mistake, at least you learn something, in which case it’s no longer a mistake. If you remain stuck, you learn nothing.”
-Eckart Tolle, The Power of Now
Many people remain stuck in the past or worrying about the future. It could be holding onto something that someone did to them or worrying about your retirement. It can also manifest as constant busyness, the need to always be doing something instead of simply just being. However, life does not happen in the past or in the future. It happens right where you are, here and now.
So how can you be more attuned to the present moment?
- Give yourself reminders such as this now wall-hanging. Or place post-it’s around your house with simple messages such as “Breathe”, “Gratitude”, etc. Or set them as alarms in your phone that help you pause during a busy day, remembering to bring yourself back to the center.
- Practice mindfulness meditation. Set aside time every day to meditate for at least 5 minutes. The easiest way to do this is to simply focus on your breath in a seated position with your eyes closed. In the grand scheme of things, 5 minutes is not that much time! Your brain (and stress levels) will seriously thank you.
- Get creative and playful! If you have kids, go play with them. If not, give yourself a creative project- draw, paint, express yourself however you want, without any judgments and without holding back at all! Not only does this help enhance your ability to be present, but it will also increase your creativity and social skills while decreasing your stress.
So grab your reminder to Be Here Now and practice being in the present moment- there’s no better time to start!