Staying in the Now

Sometimes we may find ourselves wishing we knew what our lives were going to be like or what gifts and challenges would be presented to us in upcoming times—no matter how long. We may want to know if a relationship or dilemma or situation we’re in now will be worth it later. Or, if our goals or expectations will be worth it, recognized, or just making us feel good. We might be going through a decision-making process and we’re just unsure about it. Will things work out? Will they not?

We end up looking for answers, seeing a therapist, talking with friends, seeing some fortuneteller; we might look into ourselves, with the hope of knowing what the future has in store for us. Though the real truth, while unattainable itself, is the future is likely not something that we actually would want to hear about—bringing up feelings of being overwhelmed, exhausted, in the midst of gossip with some rather unfortunate details. If we knew every single detail about what’s ahead, we likely won’t like too much of it.

To think of our lives as how they’ve been up until now and stopping there, at this point, at this moment, we will likely notice that we have already been through quite a lot, and not all of it too much fun to remember.

To stop in the now, I think is the first step towards any sort of change that might take place within us. Being mindful and aware of what and where we are right now, even if in pain; staying aware of ourselves, every part of us, our actions, reactions, behaviors—everything—we might in fact ourselves be a large part of the so-called ‘cause’ or ‘reason’ that became a part of our own suffering.

It’s not all that difficult to change. Staying aware in the present moment is really all it takes. Any changes come from there, perhaps automatically. A sense of freedom is derived from awareness itself.

Are we stuck in an uncomfortable cycle of using old behaviors, or just having a bad day, not necessarily a bad life?

Considering our own choices, even how and what we think, create our both our past and our future, creating our lives and experiences, our pasts and the present moments don’t need to predict our future because the future is now. With our freedom to be aware and mindful, we can then move on, act differently if we choose, react and behave as we wish. It’s not the paths we’re taking that bring us ahead in life, Our paths and our past experiences aren’t really paving us any roads, ways of being, the “who” is who we are.

It’s simply our awareness itself that causes us to continue to continue evolving. Often this can be happening without us even recognizing it.

Jonathan Harnisch