In the Moment

When you pick up your next drink (water, milk, beer, soy nog), what do you notice? Are you paying attention to how the muscles in your arm are working seamlessly to bring the glass to your lips? Are you letting the flavor of the liquid wash over your tongue and down your throat, or do you let it linger a little longer, noticing all the intricacies and nuances as they play over your taste buds? Do you pay attention to the gentle sound of it resting back on the table or coaster as you set it down?

When focusing on the now, what are you experiencing? For me, each moment lasts a little longer. In fact, time seems to have no consequence as I type these letters, letting each keystroke on the keyboard flow effortlessly through my Self and onto the screen. The words and motion of typing becomes one with my thoughts at this moment. At other times, I am oblivious to what my fingers are doing, lost in the thought or feeling.

When living your life in the moment, if you have ever tried, what is it that you notice the most? Do you notice your body more, or the object of your attention? It is said that we receive over a million signals to process every second, and that we only see maybe a hundred of them. We can only really focus on a small amount in any given moment. What if you were lost in thought? Perhaps none of the external stimuli are noticed by you.

Just for a moment, try to take in much more of what is being offered to you, both internally and also from without. What do you experience? What things do you take for granted? Does your sense of smell overpower your sense of sight, or does what you are touching become your focus? Perhaps go through each sense that you have and focus on it exclusively, or as much as possible. Close your eyes and listen to the sounds of the room you are in, to your own heartbeat, to the silence.

Imagine that you could focus on just the things that bring you happiness. What things about the chair you are sitting on do you enjoy - the way it feels? What about where you are living; what do you enjoy most right now? Who are the people you love the most? What qualities about them can you list in your mind or on a piece of paper that you like most about them? What about the people you currently have a grudge against, or are having a challenging time with? What qualities can you find that are not ones that may trigger your anger or frustration?

Now try to do this more often; perhaps every day. Practice it once an hour by setting an alarm or at the top of the hour, whatever you are doing or wherever you are. What are the best things you can think about this moment? Try it. You might actually enjoy yourself more often!