Being Present..

Being Present is to be free of thoughts about the past or future. You
are focused on what's happening now. Your feelings are calm. Your
reflexes are fast. Your wit is quick. You are decisive. You know what
you want. You know what's right for you. You perform your best -
public speaking, sports, music. Your confidence is deep. You know
you're not perfect so you are forgiving of your weaknesses.


Your memory is strong when you are in the present. You can recall
times you were fully present because they are very clear in your
memory. All of you was in the "here and now" - in a first love, on a
great vacation, with a trusted friend. Most people rely on external
situations in which they feel safe, in order to be present. You are
truly capable of living in the present when you feel safe even in
difficult, stressful, anxious situations - when people criticize you,
when you make dumb mistakes, when you are in financial or lovelife
crises.


Answers "pop" into your mind. Most of us are quite present when we
first wake up. We "sleep" on our challenges. Then we wake up and we
simply "know" what's right for us. This is our spirituality speaking
to us. Then we move forward in confidence.


A racing mind is evidence of a poor ability to be present. This
condition disconnects us from our inner knowing. We experience inner
conflict and second-guessing - struggling to be true to ourselves,
yet afraid others will hurt us if we do. Accidents happen more often,
and people we love feel unloved by us, because we're 'absent'.


Being present is the time frame of your mind. There are only three
time frames possible - past, present and future. Once you become
aware of the thoughts you are having and the content of those
thoughts, you will notice which timeframe you are in at any given
time. You will begin to notice how often your thoughts and feelings
are focused on the past or the future. Many people spend less than 1%
of their time living in the present.


Being present is a holistic experience. Your mind, body, heart and
soul are all unified in that one moment. Time slows down. You are
connecting with the eternal force of the universe. In fact, the
definition of eternity is the present moment. It has never NOT been
the present moment, just as God has never not existed.


Being present happens when you stop comparing ('judging') the present
moment to past experiences or future expectations. The result of this
is a feeling of love and inner peace. Regardless of what other people
are doing or what situation you are facing, you are centered and
calm. No one can do this all the time. The goal of being present is
to be able to move towards being at peace inside even when your life
is full of unwelcome conflicts and crises............from The Enlightenment Chapel