Every moment I feel appreciating of what Is, disregarding of my personnal preferences, I feel connected to God, and every creation from that mind state is one of Love and Goodwill. I can accomplish work beeing appreciative of the opportunity to serve, to bring value to others, etc.
When I am not in that appreciative place, I am bound to generate avidity or aversion and I usually become very miserable. I crave for more, for something else than what Is, and I feel completely disconnected from the beauty and the simplicity of this present moment. Every creation from that mind state is one of Fear and Lack.
It is usually worry or feeling anxious but recently I have been able to calm my nerves knowing the good Lord always has my back
and he has! Thank you for this question. Tonight I treated myself to some music at our local library. It was amazing, guitar and banjo. Very talented!
I often feel a low level anxiety when I check in with myself. It definitely comes up when I try to just be in the moment. Just something I have noticed about myself recently.
What keeps me from appreciating the simplicity of any given moment?
A few things come to mind:
Distractions.
Not being in the present moment.
Having expectations.
Realizing my mind is thinking about other stuff instead of what is in front of me.
It truly is a challenge to stay in the present moment & not let the “swirl of life” take me in & spin me about.
Happy December All…🐰🐰
Not staying present in that moment can distract from appreciating it. Yesterday in response to the “savoring” question I noted my tendency to stack activities: listen to a podcast while I walk, read while I eat. I consume a lot of information over the course of a day and always have; it’s integral to who I am. I enjoy learning from podcasts and can’t imagine sitting and listening to one without doing something else, whether it’s walking or housework or cooking. And yet sometimes I’ll realize I missed out on a bit because my brain wandered off into thinking about something I need to do. A walk with a podcast can be simple but if I leave that moment and think about other moments, it becomes complicated and I’ve lost the enjoyment.
For me, it’s been hard to allow myself to be still and appreciate the present moment. Just the other night, I was sitting in my living room, reflecting and journaling about my day. I typically write 3 things I’m grateful for that day, but I wrote over 5. I remember feeling happy and at peace. Suddenly, a sense of dread washed over me. My mind started telling me that this feeling of bliss won’t last long, that tomorrow something bad might happen and I ought to be prepared for it. I decided to go to bed afterwards.
I spoke with my therapist about this, and she stated because I have been in a constant state of anxiety since I was 11, I feel as though I am “always anticipating the worst”. Which is something I recognize in myself, I am constantly worrying about what tomorrow will bring, what challenges awaits me, how my family and friends be tomorrow, will they be ok, etc. This robs me of the opportunity to experience joy and bliss in the present moment. My body doesn’t feel safe and secure, and it hasn’t for a long time. But these last 3 years has taught me so much and mindfulness has been a powerful force that has helped me recognize these irrational thinking patterns and dysfunction coping strategies that I have held for so long. I am still so early on in my mindfulness journey, but I am extremely thankful to have embarked on this with y’all.
Te mando amor y paz
(sending you love and peace)
This reminds me of a quotation I wrote in my journal. It’s from a fantasy novel I was reading — never know where I’ll find a bit of wisdom I want to capture.
“Refuse the anxiety. When you borrow trouble against what might be, you neglect the moment you have now to enjoy. The man who worries about what will next be happening to him loses this moment in dread of the next, and poisons the next with pre-judgment.”
— Robin Hobb, Ship of Magic
Today I attempted to start a budget and really wanted to get far in it . That didn’t happen as I planned. So what keeps me from appreciating any given moment is my expectations of accomplishment vs how far I can actually get at any given moment. Often my expectations exceed my abilities or just how much time things can take! I find that I want to be finished with things before I have gotten started. Especially if it’s a task I don’t really like or want to do! I don’t know how many people like to budget, or make spreed sheets? I am not very experienced with either one of them and I also see that an adjustment of my attitude could help me to appreciate more as well!
In fact, I’m grateful to have the tools to be able to make a budget! I’m grateful that I have a home with heat that I need to plan a budget for ! I have so many resources and I’m grateful. Slowing down I can see all of these things and it helps to accomplish as much as I can and continue with my goals this month! After all, I’m getting a head start by doing this now so that 2024 will be a year where I learn how to manage my budget and get good at this ! I can make it fun and a way to plan for a better future! I can do this!
Yes you can do this!! So important to do! I retired 18 months ago, insurance needs kept me going until 65, how I wiah I could have done it a bit sooner. Plan, plan, plan! Your body and mind will thank you!
Living in the past or future, tends to
get in the way and obscure the current
moment. I have spent my life, trying my
hardest, not to be here in this moment.
What was I so afraid of? I surrender to
this moment. Again and again.
I got laid off a couple of days ago. I am scared and worried as we are headed into the holiday season and a very tough job market. I will try to use this sudden free time to appreciate that I don’t have to run for the train, sit in meetings and have work objectives and goals. Scared as I am, I will try and appreciate this unexpected gift of time and enjoy the simplicity and silence it will bring to my life.
When one door closes another opens : )
Take this time to do things like update your Linkedin and see what your state offers for unemployment training. Saying this from a time when i was laid off also.
My sense of simplicity seems only to come first thing in the morning. But lately, especially, things don’t feel so simple. Last week a flood descended from the condo overhead. Thank heavens for my son-in-law and daughter, who came to begin cleaning up the disaster on my floor, and contact the pros. Or at least begin that exercise. This, following my fall and lessened ability to make my way, get where I need to go, and etc.
We (family) did get out the other night to celebrate my Son-in-law’s birthday, share a delicious meal together, and “make good the day.” Nothing feels so simple these days, but I am grateful to be making my way, one moment, one day at a time. And … Christmas is on the horizon!
For sure! Years ago I came up with the line “Don’t ‘should’ on yourself” (say it fast and you get a second, equally valid statement). Have to remind myself every so often.
The busy life I leaf, but the main character that can keep me from that appreciation is work. It’s always on my mind. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about what needs to be done, and I actually had to stop and write a to-do list before I came to this site because I just couldn’t get it out of my head. I will try to remember to pause today for appreciation 🌻
At one point in my life I had that feeling of overload: small children, long commute to a very demanding job, challenges in my marriage at the time. I remembered my mom telling me when she couldn’t sleep she’d get up and iron, because there was always a stack of ironing waiting (she ironed my dad’s shirts for work), she could feel a sense of accomplishment, but it was also something she didn’t have to finish so when she finally felt sleepy she could go back to bed.
I have almost nothing I need to iron, by choice! But I remember one night getting up and instead of writing down a to-do list, I wrote a “done” list. I wrote absolutely everything I had done that day, from making lunch for my daughters with notes in their sacks as I always did to getting projects moved along at work.
Turned out to be a very long list. I could have that feeling of accomplishment my mom got from ironing and free myself of the way I was beating myself up for not doing “enough”, whatever that was. Turned out I had done a LOT that day and I could finally acknowledge and appreciate that.
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The desire for something else.
Every moment I feel appreciating of what Is, disregarding of my personnal preferences, I feel connected to God, and every creation from that mind state is one of Love and Goodwill. I can accomplish work beeing appreciative of the opportunity to serve, to bring value to others, etc.
When I am not in that appreciative place, I am bound to generate avidity or aversion and I usually become very miserable. I crave for more, for something else than what Is, and I feel completely disconnected from the beauty and the simplicity of this present moment. Every creation from that mind state is one of Fear and Lack.
Mostly not taking the time to appreciate, always rushing and not savoring the moment.
It is usually worry or feeling anxious but recently I have been able to calm my nerves knowing the good Lord always has my back
and he has! Thank you for this question. Tonight I treated myself to some music at our local library. It was amazing, guitar and banjo. Very talented!
When I stop seeing things as they really are. I always know because thoughts come running in like a barking dog.
I often feel a low level anxiety when I check in with myself. It definitely comes up when I try to just be in the moment. Just something I have noticed about myself recently.
What keeps me from appreciating the simplicity of any given moment?
A few things come to mind:
Distractions.
Not being in the present moment.
Having expectations.
Realizing my mind is thinking about other stuff instead of what is in front of me.
It truly is a challenge to stay in the present moment & not let the “swirl of life” take me in & spin me about.
Happy December All…🐰🐰
Not staying present in that moment can distract from appreciating it. Yesterday in response to the “savoring” question I noted my tendency to stack activities: listen to a podcast while I walk, read while I eat. I consume a lot of information over the course of a day and always have; it’s integral to who I am. I enjoy learning from podcasts and can’t imagine sitting and listening to one without doing something else, whether it’s walking or housework or cooking. And yet sometimes I’ll realize I missed out on a bit because my brain wandered off into thinking about something I need to do. A walk with a podcast can be simple but if I leave that moment and think about other moments, it becomes complicated and I’ve lost the enjoyment.
For me, it’s been hard to allow myself to be still and appreciate the present moment. Just the other night, I was sitting in my living room, reflecting and journaling about my day. I typically write 3 things I’m grateful for that day, but I wrote over 5. I remember feeling happy and at peace. Suddenly, a sense of dread washed over me. My mind started telling me that this feeling of bliss won’t last long, that tomorrow something bad might happen and I ought to be prepared for it. I decided to go to bed afterwards.
I spoke with my therapist about this, and she stated because I have been in a constant state of anxiety since I was 11, I feel as though I am “always anticipating the worst”. Which is something I recognize in myself, I am constantly worrying about what tomorrow will bring, what challenges awaits me, how my family and friends be tomorrow, will they be ok, etc. This robs me of the opportunity to experience joy and bliss in the present moment. My body doesn’t feel safe and secure, and it hasn’t for a long time. But these last 3 years has taught me so much and mindfulness has been a powerful force that has helped me recognize these irrational thinking patterns and dysfunction coping strategies that I have held for so long. I am still so early on in my mindfulness journey, but I am extremely thankful to have embarked on this with y’all.
Te mando amor y paz
(sending you love and peace)
Jenifer
Gracias y igualmente a ti.
This reminds me of a quotation I wrote in my journal. It’s from a fantasy novel I was reading — never know where I’ll find a bit of wisdom I want to capture.
“Refuse the anxiety. When you borrow trouble against what might be, you neglect the moment you have now to enjoy. The man who worries about what will next be happening to him loses this moment in dread of the next, and poisons the next with pre-judgment.”
— Robin Hobb, Ship of Magic
Today I attempted to start a budget and really wanted to get far in it . That didn’t happen as I planned. So what keeps me from appreciating any given moment is my expectations of accomplishment vs how far I can actually get at any given moment. Often my expectations exceed my abilities or just how much time things can take! I find that I want to be finished with things before I have gotten started. Especially if it’s a task I don’t really like or want to do! I don’t know how many people like to budget, or make spreed sheets? I am not very experienced with either one of them and I also see that an adjustment of my attitude could help me to appreciate more as well!
In fact, I’m grateful to have the tools to be able to make a budget! I’m grateful that I have a home with heat that I need to plan a budget for ! I have so many resources and I’m grateful. Slowing down I can see all of these things and it helps to accomplish as much as I can and continue with my goals this month! After all, I’m getting a head start by doing this now so that 2024 will be a year where I learn how to manage my budget and get good at this ! I can make it fun and a way to plan for a better future! I can do this!
Yes you can do this!! So important to do! I retired 18 months ago, insurance needs kept me going until 65, how I wiah I could have done it a bit sooner. Plan, plan, plan! Your body and mind will thank you!
Living in the past or future, tends to
get in the way and obscure the current
moment. I have spent my life, trying my
hardest, not to be here in this moment.
What was I so afraid of? I surrender to
this moment. Again and again.
I got laid off a couple of days ago. I am scared and worried as we are headed into the holiday season and a very tough job market. I will try to use this sudden free time to appreciate that I don’t have to run for the train, sit in meetings and have work objectives and goals. Scared as I am, I will try and appreciate this unexpected gift of time and enjoy the simplicity and silence it will bring to my life.
Here is a link for a nice 10 min ‘manifest a new job meditation’ which I enjoyed when I was unemployed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLjUNuS85eA&list=WL&index=18&t=13s
Thank you so much Michele. Just the thing I needed. Be Blessed.
When one door closes another opens : )
Take this time to do things like update your Linkedin and see what your state offers for unemployment training. Saying this from a time when i was laid off also.
Bless you Journey. I will pray for you.
Enjoy your down time. No fear.🙏🏻❤️
So sorry that this happened to you, Journey. Here’s hoping it opens up new avenues for you soon.
My sense of simplicity seems only to come first thing in the morning. But lately, especially, things don’t feel so simple. Last week a flood descended from the condo overhead. Thank heavens for my son-in-law and daughter, who came to begin cleaning up the disaster on my floor, and contact the pros. Or at least begin that exercise. This, following my fall and lessened ability to make my way, get where I need to go, and etc.
We (family) did get out the other night to celebrate my Son-in-law’s birthday, share a delicious meal together, and “make good the day.” Nothing feels so simple these days, but I am grateful to be making my way, one moment, one day at a time. And … Christmas is on the horizon!
Expectations, expectations, expectations.
For sure! Years ago I came up with the line “Don’t ‘should’ on yourself” (say it fast and you get a second, equally valid statement). Have to remind myself every so often.
My anxiousness over my husband’s health issues has occupied my mind and heart, but it has encouraged me to to appreciate the moment.
The busy life I leaf, but the main character that can keep me from that appreciation is work. It’s always on my mind. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about what needs to be done, and I actually had to stop and write a to-do list before I came to this site because I just couldn’t get it out of my head. I will try to remember to pause today for appreciation 🌻
At one point in my life I had that feeling of overload: small children, long commute to a very demanding job, challenges in my marriage at the time. I remembered my mom telling me when she couldn’t sleep she’d get up and iron, because there was always a stack of ironing waiting (she ironed my dad’s shirts for work), she could feel a sense of accomplishment, but it was also something she didn’t have to finish so when she finally felt sleepy she could go back to bed.
I have almost nothing I need to iron, by choice! But I remember one night getting up and instead of writing down a to-do list, I wrote a “done” list. I wrote absolutely everything I had done that day, from making lunch for my daughters with notes in their sacks as I always did to getting projects moved along at work.
Turned out to be a very long list. I could have that feeling of accomplishment my mom got from ironing and free myself of the way I was beating myself up for not doing “enough”, whatever that was. Turned out I had done a LOT that day and I could finally acknowledge and appreciate that.