As I finished teaching a class and began the closing meditation, we brought our awareness to the emotion of happiness. We reflected on our lives to the times we felt our very best, and if that time was now, we simply focused on the present moment. Moving through this practice, we allowed ourselves to experience these feelings all over again.
Getting ready to leave, someone asked, “How can we feel happy with everything happening in the world?”
The purpose of the meditation was to become mindful of the things that make us feel good. It was to experience the feelings again and remind us of the recipe that brought forth those positive emotions. With this knowledge, we can replicate things we did and our chosen mindset, with mindset being the key ingredient.
In the book The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler, M.D. they discuss that the essential point of happiness is determined more by one’s state of mind than by external events or possessions. External events will pass and the instant joy of a material possession will fade but your state of mind migrates back to its baseline.
Undoubtedly, a lot is happening around us, which can be upsetting, and our circumstances change over time. However, coping with a difficult time is purely up to us, and we can develop skills to help along the way.
Many years ago, I chose to stop allowing stressful outside circumstances to harbor within me. I understood that life will always have different challenges and that our in-boxes tend to remain full, but I didn’t need to take on stressful emotions and internalize them.
I can feel them, let them move through me, and then release them.
That became important to me and how I wanted to live my life.
I also began practicing the art of living in the present moment with gratitude. I am not talking about this month, next week, or even an hour from now. I am talking about it right now.
Can you immerse yourself in this present moment?
Currently, I am sitting at my dining room table writing this article for you. My goal is to add value to your life with my words. I can look outside my window and see the beautiful nature surrounding me. I am enjoying a cold glass of water, and my sweet little dog sleeps in her bed nearby. I have everything I need at this moment, and I am grateful for this.
By consciously living in the present moment with gratitude, life becomes a much richer experience. Some stressors from the past and the worries of the future begin to dissipate.
Remember, the past is gone, and the future doesn’t exist.
What you have is the here and now.
In closing, I’d like to leave you with this quote, “Life becomes more meaningful when you realize the simple fact that you’ll never get the same moment twice.”
My best to your health and happiness,
Yvette
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