This is another nugget of 50 from my book, ‘Unlocking My Greatest Self’ – a practical guide to surviving and thriving in a crazy 21st century world. Follow the steps towards the end of this piece to gain calm and re-centre yourself into the present.
With deep gratitude to Eckhart Tolle and his book ‘The Power of Now’, this nugget focuses on the philosophy and true healing potential of NOWness and being in the moment. It is a form of Mindfulness.
Just How Aware Are You?
Are you aware at this moment that you have toes? Now you are, because I’ve mentioned it. And you’ll feel them and wiggle them now. But most of the time we are in our own thoughts, our own world. Focused on what we’re doing, what else we’re looking at.
Have you gone upstairs or into another room only to forget what it was you went for? Standing there like a lemon scanning your mind for what it was.
It’s happened to us all. Our minds are constantly busy and active being anywhere else but here, now.
In moments when we’re so much in our heads we can be totally unaware of what is around us. And in doing so we can miss so much beauty and joy.
The Ups and Downs of Focusing
On the upside, focusing is good. But it has a cost, a downside. In doing something specific we can be highly creative, productive and efficient. The thing we’re doing and paying attention to is much better served when we’re focused on it to the exclusion of everything else. However, what are we missing? It depends what we’re doing and what the circumstances are.
If we’re at work this power of focus is great. Employers will pay you good money for this ability.
But what if you’re out in the country, walking and your mind is still focused on work; what you need to do, what you left undone, what so-and-so said to you the other day.
Then you’re not there. You’re AWOL, missing nature in all its glory, all the colours of the season, the changing patterns, the wonderful wildlife that surrounds you.
And this is a really key point.
Anxious, worried and depressed thinking and the Power of Now
Our minds – our thoughts – can make us anxious, worried, frustrated, angry, depressed. And often it is just our thoughts. The future meanderings of ‘what ifs’, the musings and ruminations of the past.
The amazing thing is, if we stayed present and more still and learned to quieten our minds, everything can be OK. We can calm ourselves and live more healthily and joyfully.
It’s a simple but profound fact. The Now is the only things that exists. What happened and what is still to happen only exists in our thoughts. So if we can change our thoughts we can change our present and avoid it being polluted by the past or future.
How to Handle Anxious Thoughts
So, how to manage our minds and live more in the Now?
Follow this simple 4-3-2-1 Mindfulness method for recentring:
- Find a comfortable chair, close your eyes for 10 seconds. Now open them. Look at 4 different things very closely for 30 seconds each. Observe the colour of each of them, the light on them and their shape.
- Close your eyes again for 10 seconds, shutting everything out…then listen for 4 different sounds in a similar way. Focus on each one individually, listening for its individual cadence, what it might be and its aural textures. It could be a bird, or a creaking floor or a tap dripping. But really listen.
- Then, still with your eyes closed, feel 4 different things on your skin, like your shirt collar or your shoes, maybe move your fingers together. Give each one 10 seconds or so each and really feel the texture of how it feels for you.
- Then start over. This time look, listen and feel for 3 things each time, then do the round for 2 each, then one.
- Approach your day more like this – taking time to be in the moment with your senses and the things nearby.
My book on Amazon
For more of these type of nuggets, seek out my book ‘Unlocking my Greatest Self’ – 50 secrets to becoming calm, confident and fulfilled. It’s available on Amazon.
Help from DOCwellness
And for one to one help on practising these kind of processes and overcoming anxiety, phobias and overthinking, Contact us today or call 07778 613268 if you would like to discuss things more.