Many people suffer from depression which is a pressing down of emotions that depletes our emotional and physical energy. Likewise anxiety pushes our emotional energy into our body which then gives us panic like symptoms like ulcers, upset stomach, chest pain, and an overwhelming experience of fear. These symptoms happen because too often we rush to the next moment instead of totally embracing and experiencing the present moment. The secret of a peaceful life is to gently focus on the present moment with wonder and awe. It is in the embrace and focus on this a present moment that I will have a positive experience and find a sense of peace and wonder.
The struggle in life is rushing to the next moment and becoming preoccupied with what I will do next. It is like life is to be always worried about, what will I do next or what will happen next. Whenever I rush to the next moment, I miss so much wonder and peace in this present moment.
As I sit here typing I am experiencing our little dog sleeping on the floor. I can see the green trees outside; I enjoy the relaxing music I am listening to. There is so much to observe as I look around the room. Every picture I see and every plaque on the walls reminds me of something deeper as I look at them slowly with focused attention. There is no need to rush to the next moment. Each present moment is filled with meaning and with a Divine Presence.
As the years pass by, I am again inspired by what happens when I simply stay in this present moment. There never needs to be a rush to get into the next moment. I think artists discover the peace of the present moment as they are slowly painting something. I find myself relaxing very much when I am writing these articles or when I am writing my daily reflections because there is not a rush to find out what happens next. When the present moment is observed and experienced the body slows down, the heart becomes gentle, and the mind becomes gently reflective. I call these Divine Moments. And every moment can become a Divine Moment.
It becomes a relaxing moment when I realize that I don't have to rush to the next moment. It is in this present moment gently and reflectively embraced that I will discover meaning, peace and wisdom. And in this embrace of meaning, peace and wisdom I will have a positive experience of God and a positive experience of myself. But I don't have to rush. I simply have to embrace and accept this moment as it is.
Wisdom happens when I slow down and become gently reflective and accepting to the present moment and present experience of life. I do not have to change people. I simply need to be loving and helpful to other people. Gentle listening to others helps me to slow down and experience life in a deeper manner. Tension disappears when I focus gently on this moment. And when this focus is accompanied by gratitude, I experience a profound appreciation for what I see and experience.
I would like to say that this article could easily be called "Stop rushing. Slow up and enjoy life. Stay in this moment."
Every one I see and everything I see and experience teach me something about life. And when I focus on this reflectively, I will begin to have an experience of God. Wisdom starts with a gentle acceptance and experience of this present moment because it slows us down so we can go deeper into life, others, ourselves and God. Just gently first observe, accept and experience this present moment and you will discover amazing and profound experiences and thoughts coming your way.
The journey into wisdom is a journey into the present moment. The journey into experiencing God in life is a journey into observing and experiencing this present moment. Observe gently and carefully each moment and your life will become more peaceful and meaningful. I believe that you will feel more relaxed and discover a peace and a wisdom that you may never have experienced before. But first, never rush to the next moment. Just embrace and gently focus on this moment with reflective attentiveness.
This is difficult to do because we are accustomed to thinking about what we will do next. When we realize that we don't have to be concerned about what will happen next but only what is happening in this moment, we will very comfortably and maturely walk through life and discover an inner peace within us. DON'T RUSH TO THE NEXT MOMENT. Life lived well is the gentle embrace and reflection on the NOW. Then so much opens up to us.
Rushing through life complicates life. It also distracts me from positively experiencing life. There is no need to hurry to the next moment.
It is in the embrace and total attentiveness to this present moment where we can slow down and experience peace. Focused attention on this moment becomes a way of discovering ourselves, opening up to what we need to feel, and a discovery of the presence of God in our life.
One of the most common fallacies in life is that peace and happiness is based on what will happen to us. It is never what will happen to us by people or circumstances that will bring us happiness or peace. It is how we respond to what happens in this present moment. An attentive focus on this moment is where I will discover peace and discover how to live. If I am with someone, I need to be attentive to that person. if I am watching television I simply need to slow down and focus on what I am watching. Everything in life when gently and slowly embraced with my attentiveness will help me slow down and help me to have a positive experience.
The biggest struggle in life is rushing to the next moment or hanging on to the past moment. There is no reason to live in the next moment or linger over the past moment. We so often want to control life, other people, places or things instead of simply experiencing people, places, things.
To gently and slowly experience this present moment is to create a relaxing experience for our body and mind and soul. It is only in this present moment where I will find joy and peace and a profound experience of God. I don't have to control life. I don't have to control people. I don't have to be concerned about how the world will be.
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Fred Cavaiani is a licensed marriage & family therapist and limited licensed psychologist with a private practice in Troy. He is the founder of Marriage Growth Center. He conducts numerous programs for groups throughout Michigan. Cavaiani is associate editor and contributing writer for Human Development Magazine. His column in the Legal News runs every other Tuesday. He can be reached at 248-362-3340. His e-mail address is: Fredcavi@yahoo.com and his website is FredsCounselorsCorner.com.
