Live one day at a time
Here’s a thought worth pondering as echoed by Kay Conner Plizka in the book, “Chicken Soup For The Soul, Daily Inspiration:” “Some folks spend half their lives brooding about the past —- chiding themselves for their mistakes and reliving their minds, over and over again, what might have been. Others worry about the future —- condemning their weaknesses and worrying that they will not be strong enough to overcome what may arise. But those of us in recovery strive to put the pain of
our past and the fear of our future behind us. We find comfort and strength in the innocence of now, the present. With each new dawn we are reborn. And so we live …one day at a time.”
Our mind can play tricks on us. Like a monkey it swings from one branch to another. Lots of thoughts come into our mind and create scenarios that are sometimes positive and sometimes negative. When positive thoughts cross our mind we are happy and hopeful, but when negative thoughts are created, worry and fear drive us to the edge of life. It siphons our energy and the enthusiasm of life. We become paralyze and dreaded the moments of the day. Hence, it is for the good of our soul to bring our mind to the present moment — that is the now.
If you always focus on the present moment, our mind doesn’t have the time to play tricks on us. We must bring awareness on what we are doing at the present moment. It is in this moment that fear and worry have no place under the sun. It is in the present moment that we can savor the gift of life.
How shall we focus our mind in the present moment? The “learn evolve and drive website,” suggests the following:
Observe silence. Mother Theresa said, “Before you speak, it is necessary for you to listen, for God speaks in the silence of the heart.” If we have 60,000 thoughts per day, our mind is in constant marathon of endless activities of internal and external stimulus. A marathon of endless thoughts saps our energy and strength which can create obstacles to experiencing a more fulfilled life. Silence requires discipline to turn off the noise and to allow ourselves the time to sit in the present.
Carpe diem (seize the day). Enjoy the day as it comes. This also implies a grateful heart and a willingness to accept hardships as it comes.
Let go. Each day we have an opportunity to make our lives whatever we want it to be. If we spend our time looking backwards, we will miss everything that is good today. To live fully, we have to learn to embrace each moment now.
Go with the flow. Life often throws us curve balls, so what do we do with them? We pick them up and toss them back. Learn to embrace and accept “what is” by going into a situation with an open mind to all possibilities. Embrace change and become more flexible, understanding that nothing in life stays the same.
Cultivate personal happiness. Find the things that makes you feel alive, worthy, Holy and fulfilled. What speaks to your heart? What do you dream about doing or becoming most days of your life? If the things you are doing today or the people you are associated with do not support how you see yourself, do something else. Spend time after prayer in silence, listening for a still voice within you as your guide. You’ll never go wrong.