Be in the Moment

To be in the moment means to be aware of the present. What is happening right now? Right now is the only time you have. Yesterday is gone. The future isn't here yet. Therefore, the only thing you have control over is the present moment. What are you going to do with it? Think about what you could of, should of, or would have done or worry about the future. A great quote I ran across about worry states, "Worry is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere." How true! The present is where it's at and it's the only place you can be. Work on today to make tomorrow what you want it to be.

Here’s Looking at You Kid

"What a jerk! He's always getting away with something, and her, what a gossip. You can't tell her anything unless you want the whole world to know it. They're so arrogant and pompous. What a pair!"

"Look at that big boat they just got. How can they afford it with the two trips they already took this year? I heard he lost money in his business last year".

Mmm. Have you ever found yourself talking about someone in a negative way? Of course you have. We have all done it at one time or another. But what are we really saying? In "The Work" that Byron Katie uses there is the turnaround question. In it you are asked to replace yourself with whomever you are speaking about. It's not easy. It's not pretty. But, it is probably true that what you dislike and/or envy in another person is what you don't like about yourself or an item or quality you wish you had. It's called looking in the mirror. A mirror is a reflection of your physical self but in this case it is a reflection of your inner self.

I highly recommend the book, "Loving What Is" by Byron Katie. This is but a speck of what The Work is all about. There are four questions in the book to ask you along with examples of how others used the model. I call it self-awareness therapy.

What is the One Thing That Does it for You?

In the movie City Slickers, Crusty the old cowboy, holds up one finger and tells Billy Crystal's character that there is only one thing you got know in life. Crystal's character asks him what that is. Crusty tells him, "That's what you got to figure out." He dies before Crystal's character can find out what that one thing is. At the end of the movie he figures out that what Crusty meant, that it is different for everyone.

Find the one thing that defines you. What is the one thing that is the essence of fulfillment for you? When you figure that out then everything else will fall into place. Revolve the other aspects of your life around it. Is it family, a favorite charity, or spiritual. Once you figure it out, make that the center of your life. Let's say its family. That would mean that if family is the most important thing to you when a decision has to be made as to how to spend your time, ask yourself, "What do I really want to do?" and go with that. Spend it with your family. No one died wishing they could have worked one more day but they have wished they could have spent more time cultivating meaningful relationships or done more for the needy. Many parents have spent extra hours working so that they can send their children to College all the while missing out on their children’s growing years. Leave here with no regrets. Give it your all. In the end, when you become more authentic to you true self, you also become a happier person.

The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Create it

We live our life by default or by design, by chance or by choice. Which one would you rather have? Would you rather drift through life letting the circumstances that arise dictate your life or would you rather take the bull by the horns and steer it to where you want to go? You can. You have the power to make your life whatever you want it to be. Be the author instead of the reader. When given the choice, and it is your choice, most people would rather be in control of their destiny. It's not always easy; anything worth having doesn't come easily. You must commit yourself to your cause and do whatever it takes to reach your goal. If the goal is to get a college education and along the way there are setbacks, take it for what it is, a setback not a give up. Keep the long term goal in mind. Bit by bit and day by day you will continue to get closer to your goal. In the process you will not have only achieved what you want, but in the end you will have gained something much more, confidence, determination, perseverance, and a sense of accomplishment. These are qualities that will be embodied in you and carry you through anything for the rest of your life. Now isn't that worth designing your life for?