Being Present? What Does That Mean Anyway?
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A Story About Being Present?What Does That Mean Anyway?
A Story About Being Present?
What Does That Mean Anyway?
Being Present? What Does That Mean Anyway?
What does being in the present moment mean? Many spiritual teachers and inspirational speakers talk about it. So here is a short story and two questions you can ask yourself to get back into the present moment.
Three Minute Thoughts About “Being Present”
When listening to your favorite spiritual teachers or inspirational speakers, have you noticed they frequently seem to mention being in the present moment? What does being in the present moment mean, though?
Hi, my name is Blair. Allow me to tell you a story about one aspect of being present.
Two monks were walking down a muddy road heading toward a distant monastery. At the side of the road, a woman was standing with a large bundle at her feet. The woman asked for assistance getting across the mud. The shorter monk promptly walked over, gently picked up the woman and her pack, and carried her to the opposite side of the road. Then he motioned at his friend to continue their journey.
Several hours later, the taller monk suddenly yelled at his companion, “I can’t believe you picked up that woman! The monastery rules say we are not allowed to touch women”.
The shorter monk paused for a moment, and then he said compassionately, “I put that woman down several miles ago. Why are you still carrying her?”
How does Being In The Present Moment come into this?
I have found there are many layers to this story. One layer has to do with being present in each moment of our lives. The taller monk appears so worried about keeping the rules, which he learned in the past, that his reaction was to release his indignation. His emotion from taking offense blinded him to helping a fellow human being and not yelling at his friend, both of which were situations in the present moment.
Generally, being present means, we make compassionate decisions moment-by-moment.
We are fully present when we realize each minute offers us a myriad of pressures and opportunities. Based on previous experiences, it’s easy to react automatically. Fortunately, we can also navigate those possibilities based on conscious thought and compassion.
Being Present starts with paying attention to how we feel. Our feelings give away our conscious and subconscious thoughts. Thus, when we notice how we feel, we gain insight into our deeper beliefs and assumptions. That insight offers us choices and empowers us to create our life instead of reacting to life.
Here are some questions that bring yourself into the present.
When you feel angry or just negative, ask yourself, “What thoughts and beliefs am I holding that are being threatened?” Then further bring yourself into the present moment by asking, “What do I want in this situation.” If you use these two questions, you offer yourself possibilities for being present.
I’m Blair. Thank you for joining me in this video. May you enjoy practicing being present, and may you have a peaceful day.
I look forward to seeing you in the next video.
Dear Friend,
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