To me it feels doing my best to be present. Just to say, these days are asking a lot of me on varous ends presented to be considered and decided. Here we are, and now i will go sleeping. Wishing all a relaxing and refreshing sleep and a beautiful new day full of wonder ✨
I practice Presence while I’m living my daily life . . .
when I am washing dishes,
pulling weeds,
drawing a picture,
listening to music,
making love with my husband,
stripping a found piece of furniture,
taking the latest humanely captured ground hog to the quarry,
interacting with another human being,
being a warm bed for a cat,
feeding the birds . . .
life itself is a grand stage on which to practice,
isn’t it?
Coming to this space
and learning from the people who come here
with open hearts . . .
this is as much of an organized church with people that I go to.
I learn from you
and hear about books and wise people to research.
I have gotten so many books over the years
from suggestions offered here
(and on the old forum),
and also from a therapist I had many years ago.
I’ve been introduced to prophets,
healers, thinkers, and other people seeking truth
and a better internal life.
I am now
beginning to feel included in the Circle of Life . . .
I didn’t feel that
before.
I thank the Universe
for all of you . . .
collectively,
you have saved me,
and with all the resources I’ve been given
there is always room for me to grow. ♥
“beginning to feel included in the Circle of Life……” I have spent my life out of doors and that phrase means much to me dear Sparrow. The kindred inner intelligence of life, all share.
Now the closest I can come to presence is a phrase in one of my books:present-moment living. I focused on this phrase for several days. What I find is that a phrase or thought will occupy my mind for awhile, and then another one comes up to focus on. I guess that’s the journey.
I tend to ruminate so practicing mindfulness almost constantly is very important for me. I need to discipline myself to check in and listen to what I’m telling myself more often!
I like this quote from Alan Watts. “The future is a concept. It doesn’t exist. There is no such thing as tomorrow. There never will be, because time is always NOW. That’s one of the things we discover when we stop talking to ourselves and stop thinking. We find there is only the present, only an eternal now.”
I share the Eschatological Laundry List for those who are unfamiliar with it. Notice #1!
An Eschatological Laundry List
A partial register of the 927 (or was it 928) Eternal Truths Written by Sheldon Kopp
1. This is it!
2. There are no hidden meanings.
3. You can’t get there from here and besides there’s no place else to go.
4. We are all already dying and we will be dead for a long time.
5. Nothing lasts.
6. There is no way of getting all you want.
7. You can’t have anything unless you let go of it.
8. You only get to keep what you give away.
9. There is no particular reason why you lost out on some things.
10. The world is not necessarily just. Being good often does not pay off and there is no compensation for misfortune.
11. You have a responsibility to do your best nonetheless.
12. It is a random universe to which we bring meaning.
13. You don’t really control anything.
14. You can’t make anyone love you.
15. No one is any stronger or any weaker than anyone else.
16. Everyone is, in his own way, vulnerable.
17. There are no great men.
18. If you have a hero, look again: you have diminished yourself in some way.
19. Everyone lies, cheats, pretends, (yes, you too, and most certainly I myself).
20. All evil is potential vitality in need of transformation.
21. All of you is worth something, if you will only own it.
22. Progress is an illusion.
23. Evil can be displaced but never eradicated, as all solutions breed new problems.
24. Yet it is necessary to keep on struggling toward solution.
25. Childhood is a nightmare.
26. But it is so very hard to be an on-your-own, take-care-of-yourself-cause-there-is-no- one-else-to-do-it-for-you grown-up.
27. Each of us is ultimately alone.
28. The most important things, each man must do for himself.
29. Love is not enough, but it sure helps.
30. We have only ourselves and one another. That may not be much but that’s all there is.
31. How strange that so often, it all seems worth it.
32. We must live within the ambiguity of partial freedom, partial power and partial knowledge.
33. All important decisions must be made on the basis of insufficient data.
34. Yet we are responsible for everything we do.
35. No excuses will be accepted.
36. You can run, but you can’t hide.
37. It is most important to run out of scapegoats.
38. We must learn the power of living with our helplessness.
39. The only victory lies in surrender to oneself.
40. All of the significant battles are waged within the self.
41. You are free to do whatever you like. You need only face the consequences.
42. What do you know…for sure…anyway?
43. Learn to forgive yourself, again and again and again and again…
What an impressive list,
dear Carol Ann . . .
many of the things were familiar to me.
While reading it
I kept choosing different things to highlight in my response,
but this one
ended up being the One.
“11. You have a responsibility to do your best nonetheless.”
Now I will have to look up the rest.
I don’t know how this book
escaped my notice.
Thank you for taking the time to post this. ♥
Take walking meetings: I do this for work meetings when I can so I don’t have 3 screens in front of me full of open tabs and to-dos. I put on my headset and go to a nearby park where I can wind around on paths through the woods.
Conversely, walk without my headset on. I often use a short walk as a chance to listen to French lessons and podcasts (working to strengthen my knowledge) or to listen to another type of podcast. If I walk, and only walk, I may think about some things but I’ll be more attuned to the world around me than if my brain is inside my headset processing language.
Work to break down the easy divide between “natural” and “human”. If I can pause to pay attention to a beautiful flower, glowing sunset, giant tree, cushion of tiny mosses, and give it my full attention, I can do the same with the human being in front of me or the task I’m trying to finish up. One is not more or less present in my attention than the other unless I make it so.
By setting that intention at the beginning of the day. By doing my activities as much as possible one thing at a time rather than multitasking. By bringing myself to the present through my 5 senses, my mantram, or my breath when I catch my mind wandering.
I don’t think capacity is my problem. It’s more of a frequency issue. How often can I be in the present.
It’s more about the desire and the ability to return to the present. The crazy part is how often I find myself not in the present and in some future or past or fantasy daydream. It’s almost like a gauge of sorts. The ratio indicates some sort of general contentment or stress level. It would do me good to pay more attention to this.
Being present is only undesirable when there’s something inside of myself that I’m scared of—and/or when life reflects back at me something within me that I cannot tolerate. Through practice, I can become familiar with the aspects of myself that I fear or cover up with distraction. Shame is a big one. What an unpleasant sensation!
Anyways, with familiarity comes comfort, and at some point there comes a time when I notice something like the old shame, and I smile at it with passive regard, and it doesn’t interrupt my presence. It has lost its charge. I no longer need to run away from it. Slowly and with practice, my capacity for presence increases.
Appreciating simpler pleasures also means putting myself in a better position to receive care even if the methods don’t align with me. It comes back to detaching from my ways and building from the root. Pulling strings is the last thing we need. It reduces the capacity to be present in the long run.
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To me it feels doing my best to be present. Just to say, these days are asking a lot of me on varous ends presented to be considered and decided. Here we are, and now i will go sleeping. Wishing all a relaxing and refreshing sleep and a beautiful new day full of wonder ✨
Thank you Ose.
I practice Presence while I’m living my daily life . . .
when I am washing dishes,
pulling weeds,
drawing a picture,
listening to music,
making love with my husband,
stripping a found piece of furniture,
taking the latest humanely captured ground hog to the quarry,
interacting with another human being,
being a warm bed for a cat,
feeding the birds . . .
life itself is a grand stage on which to practice,
isn’t it?
Coming to this space
and learning from the people who come here
with open hearts . . .
this is as much of an organized church with people that I go to.
I learn from you
and hear about books and wise people to research.
I have gotten so many books over the years
from suggestions offered here
(and on the old forum),
and also from a therapist I had many years ago.
I’ve been introduced to prophets,
healers, thinkers, and other people seeking truth
and a better internal life.
I am now
beginning to feel included in the Circle of Life . . .
I didn’t feel that
before.
I thank the Universe
for all of you . . .
collectively,
you have saved me,
and with all the resources I’ve been given
there is always room for me to grow. ♥
I have learned so much from being here as well.
Thank you, Sparrow.
“beginning to feel included in the Circle of Life……” I have spent my life out of doors and that phrase means much to me dear Sparrow. The kindred inner intelligence of life, all share.
It’s such a joy to feel reconnected to that,
dear Joseph,
even though the ties are tenuous. ♥
Now the closest I can come to presence is a phrase in one of my books:present-moment living. I focused on this phrase for several days. What I find is that a phrase or thought will occupy my mind for awhile, and then another one comes up to focus on. I guess that’s the journey.
Baby steps,
dear Christina . . .
baby steps.
It all counts. ♥
Thank you dear Sparrow.
Morning devotions set the tone for the day but I must consciously pause and look and listen. I may be touched by what I see and hear.
Possibly pausing periodically throughout the/each day to focus on being present, not only to/for others, but also to/for you and your surroundings.
Stop. Look. Listen. Perhaps I could start there?
I tend to ruminate so practicing mindfulness almost constantly is very important for me. I need to discipline myself to check in and listen to what I’m telling myself more often!
I like this quote from Alan Watts. “The future is a concept. It doesn’t exist. There is no such thing as tomorrow. There never will be, because time is always NOW. That’s one of the things we discover when we stop talking to ourselves and stop thinking. We find there is only the present, only an eternal now.”
I share the Eschatological Laundry List for those who are unfamiliar with it. Notice #1!
An Eschatological Laundry List
A partial register of the 927 (or was it 928) Eternal Truths Written by Sheldon Kopp
1. This is it!
2. There are no hidden meanings.
3. You can’t get there from here and besides there’s no place else to go.
4. We are all already dying and we will be dead for a long time.
5. Nothing lasts.
6. There is no way of getting all you want.
7. You can’t have anything unless you let go of it.
8. You only get to keep what you give away.
9. There is no particular reason why you lost out on some things.
10. The world is not necessarily just. Being good often does not pay off and there is no compensation for misfortune.
11. You have a responsibility to do your best nonetheless.
12. It is a random universe to which we bring meaning.
13. You don’t really control anything.
14. You can’t make anyone love you.
15. No one is any stronger or any weaker than anyone else.
16. Everyone is, in his own way, vulnerable.
17. There are no great men.
18. If you have a hero, look again: you have diminished yourself in some way.
19. Everyone lies, cheats, pretends, (yes, you too, and most certainly I myself).
20. All evil is potential vitality in need of transformation.
21. All of you is worth something, if you will only own it.
22. Progress is an illusion.
23. Evil can be displaced but never eradicated, as all solutions breed new problems.
24. Yet it is necessary to keep on struggling toward solution.
25. Childhood is a nightmare.
26. But it is so very hard to be an on-your-own, take-care-of-yourself-cause-there-is-no- one-else-to-do-it-for-you grown-up.
27. Each of us is ultimately alone.
28. The most important things, each man must do for himself.
29. Love is not enough, but it sure helps.
30. We have only ourselves and one another. That may not be much but that’s all there is.
31. How strange that so often, it all seems worth it.
32. We must live within the ambiguity of partial freedom, partial power and partial knowledge.
33. All important decisions must be made on the basis of insufficient data.
34. Yet we are responsible for everything we do.
35. No excuses will be accepted.
36. You can run, but you can’t hide.
37. It is most important to run out of scapegoats.
38. We must learn the power of living with our helplessness.
39. The only victory lies in surrender to oneself.
40. All of the significant battles are waged within the self.
41. You are free to do whatever you like. You need only face the consequences.
42. What do you know…for sure…anyway?
43. Learn to forgive yourself, again and again and again and again…
I’m saving this list. Thank you Carol Ann.
42. What do you know . . . for sure . . . anyway? No kidding Carol Ann.
What an impressive list,
dear Carol Ann . . .
many of the things were familiar to me.
While reading it
I kept choosing different things to highlight in my response,
but this one
ended up being the One.
“11. You have a responsibility to do your best nonetheless.”
Now I will have to look up the rest.
I don’t know how this book
escaped my notice.
Thank you for taking the time to post this. ♥
Put down my phone!
Take walking meetings: I do this for work meetings when I can so I don’t have 3 screens in front of me full of open tabs and to-dos. I put on my headset and go to a nearby park where I can wind around on paths through the woods.
Conversely, walk without my headset on. I often use a short walk as a chance to listen to French lessons and podcasts (working to strengthen my knowledge) or to listen to another type of podcast. If I walk, and only walk, I may think about some things but I’ll be more attuned to the world around me than if my brain is inside my headset processing language.
Work to break down the easy divide between “natural” and “human”. If I can pause to pay attention to a beautiful flower, glowing sunset, giant tree, cushion of tiny mosses, and give it my full attention, I can do the same with the human being in front of me or the task I’m trying to finish up. One is not more or less present in my attention than the other unless I make it so.
Adding a link I have open that feels relevant in a time when it can be very difficult to stay present: https://www.findingsteadyground.com/.
Possibly got this from someone here in the past. If that was you, thank you!
. . . wonderful link,
dear Barb . . . ♥
This is the question on which I would like ideas- so I will read everyone’s thoughts! Thank you.
Accepting the resistance I’m feeling instead of pushing it away
By setting that intention at the beginning of the day. By doing my activities as much as possible one thing at a time rather than multitasking. By bringing myself to the present through my 5 senses, my mantram, or my breath when I catch my mind wandering.
I don’t think capacity is my problem. It’s more of a frequency issue. How often can I be in the present.
It’s more about the desire and the ability to return to the present. The crazy part is how often I find myself not in the present and in some future or past or fantasy daydream. It’s almost like a gauge of sorts. The ratio indicates some sort of general contentment or stress level. It would do me good to pay more attention to this.
Yes, Charlie, Intention controls attention.
You’re going to pay attention to paying attention. Love it!
Ditto Charlie!
I’m on the same boat Charlie
Try not to worry about tomorrow or regret yesterday. These are obvious answers. Focus on the now. Listen to those around me. Watch nature. Breathe.
Reconnect with nature and breath – thank you!
Being present is only undesirable when there’s something inside of myself that I’m scared of—and/or when life reflects back at me something within me that I cannot tolerate. Through practice, I can become familiar with the aspects of myself that I fear or cover up with distraction. Shame is a big one. What an unpleasant sensation!
Anyways, with familiarity comes comfort, and at some point there comes a time when I notice something like the old shame, and I smile at it with passive regard, and it doesn’t interrupt my presence. It has lost its charge. I no longer need to run away from it. Slowly and with practice, my capacity for presence increases.
Drea, You are on quite the journey. Big hug coming your way.
Thank you Carol.
Appreciating simpler pleasures also means putting myself in a better position to receive care even if the methods don’t align with me. It comes back to detaching from my ways and building from the root. Pulling strings is the last thing we need. It reduces the capacity to be present in the long run.