mymindisfine

I’ll be the first to admit that I really don’t like when people give me advice on how to live my life. Either it’s because I’m too stubborn to accept what someone else has to say or I’m just not ready to make a change. Even with minor things. But really, what makes someone else feel so entitled to tell me how to do things I’ve been doing for the longest time? On what grounds is someone else better equipped than I am to make choices that they feel are right for me? I feel confident that I know what actions are in my best interest. And while I admit that everyone makes mistakes, myself included, I’d rather do something that ends up not working out because I wanted to than because someone else thought it would be right for me to do.

I’ve been on and off reading this book called The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and it’s really opened a few doors for me. I’ve discovered that there is a very easy way to make the everyday parts of my life more enjoyable and rewarding. One of the things that Tolle stresses the most in his book is the importance of living in the present. It’s amazing how often we find ourselves pondering the future or reminiscing in the past. If you can task yourself to becoming consciously aware of this every time it happens, you’ll see that it is a very usual way people cope with life’s challenges.

But according to Tolle, there is a better way to live your life. I decided to take his advice and noticed immediately that I’m less stressed and in fact more interested in things that were once redundant and nonsensical. The book suggests that every time you find yourself thinking about the future, to remove yourself from that train of thought and instead focus on your present state of being. Don’t concern yourself over things that you may or may not be able to control and instead put your energy into being. Feel the blankets on your legs when you lie in bed before falling asleep; savour the food you are about to eat at dinner time; pay attention to your pulse and the freshness of everything around you. Become one with the music in your headphones. How do you feel at this very moment? You will find that doing this on a regular basis will lead you to seeing the world in a much different way. Focus on just being.

One example Tolle gives in his book is of walking up flights of stairs. It’s something that we all do on a somewhat regular basis, and it’s a taxing experience. But instead of dreading doing this, or avoiding it altogether, Tolle suggests that you embrace it. Pay special attention to each individual step. Focus on your breathing. Think about how you feel. Set small goals for yourself and put all of your mental energy into the process. When you reach the top of the staircase you will feel like you have truly accomplished something, and that this was something worth doing. You will have arrived at some state of self fulfilment which is truly rewarding.

Similarly Tolle acknowledges that we are often faced with negative thoughts about things. When you find yourself dreading a certain scenario, he suggests separating yourself from that mindset. Create a different identity. Disassociate yourself from those negative thoughts. Convince yourself that this isn’t you who is thinking these things. When you can release these negative feelings and tell yourself that these do not reflect your true outlook of the world, you will feel a great sense of relief.

I know sometimes these habits are hard to break. I know that few people like to take advice about how to live their lives. But once in a while it is a good thing to try something different and see how it works. I’ve found that living in the moment and really coming to terms with the way things are right now is a much more gratifying way to live. What do you think?

Tags: attitude, healthy living, Positive thinking