By John Holland

OmTimes

No one really likes to wait. When we really want something and have to wait for it, some of us may have the tendency to become anxious, especially if we’ve got a lot on our plate. Right now as I write this article, my dog Koda is going through a serious health condition. My mind was racing with the “What ifs, Am I doing everything I can? Do I have all the information I need from the veterinarians?” Needless to say I was totally stressed and my mind was doing a number on me! After all, I am still just a human. I had to STOP and remind myself to: “Stay in the Present Moment!” It is a constant lesson I am learning and will continue to learn throughout my whole life: to remain calm and to stay in the present moment by being mindful.

By staying present, I now have ALL the information I need, my mind has slowed down, and with it the stress has subsided. Koda and I will get through this together, and I feel he will be fine.

Taking things one day at a time and staying in the present moment can dramatically reduce stress, keep you calm, and help to keep you focused as you deal with all of the things going on in your life. I find it helpful to have reminders to be mindful, because some of us need some help with the tools necessary to take us back to the present. Because I grew up in an alcoholic family, I was taught to worry and would often immediately jump to the future and would worry and have fear about the unknown. Do you have a tendency to do this too? When you are not in the present, worry, fear, regret, stress, and anxiety can slowly slip in and take over your thoughts and life.

Now that I’m older and more educated about being mindful of staying in the present moment, the habit of jumping to the future has slowed down considerably. I will continue to work at this most likely for my whole life, but at least I am aware of it, and can then make a conscious decision about what to do about it. It’s a learning process of being cognitive of when this is happening and having reminders to pull back to the now.

In my Psychic Tarot Oracle Deck there is a card called The Waiting Game, and it is absolutely perfect for this article and fits with what I am trying to convey to you. This card indicates that you’ve worked hard to set things in motion in certain areas of your life, and you’re now waiting for the results to come to fruition. The number 2 on this card is all about choice and decision. In the past, you may have been afraid of making decisions or choices, but now you’re no longer held prisoner by this fear or the constraints of old beliefs. Expect the best and be open to the limitless power of your intuition, which is presently very strong — trust and use it to assist you.

The card goes on to say that achievement and success are assured, but once obtained, don’t let it change you — remember who you are, the effort that it took to get you to this point, and the gratitude you need to show to the people who helped you. Stay on your spiritual path, for it will continue to guide you on the journey of your soul.

John’s Lesson

Here are a few tips to help you to be mindful of staying in the present moment:

Be more mindful or aware of when you are experiencing not being in the present moment. The signs could be stress, anxiety, worrying too much, feeling out of breath, having sudden fears arise, snapping at others that don’t deserve it, etc. Know your signs and when you do notice, you are being cognitive and are developing your mindfulness.

Breathe! When you take in a few deep cleansing breaths – it brings you back to the present by pulling you back from jumping into the future and slows your mind and thoughts down. In my book Psychic Navigator – Harnessing Your Inner Guidance, I teach a great breathing technique called “Mindfulness of Breathing” that I learned from my Buddhist Meditation Class. Mindfulness is the opposite of distraction – it’s the ability to maintain an easy sense of focus and attention, and it’s a way to keep your mind from flitting from thought to thought, just by the simple act of mindful breathing. Try it! It not only helps to bring you into mindfulness, but many people who have used this technique find themselves falling asleep much easier when practiced before they go to bed.

Even putting a Post-It note reminder where you can see it every day is a great way to stay in the present moment. Lucky for me I have Koda who prompts me to be in the present. Every time I grab his leash and take him for a walk, it is a reminder and great way to practice to just “be and relax.” Choose anything you wish, whether it’s a color or an item in your home or work to assist you in being in the here and now.

Try to be mindful at different times throughout the day. Focus on whatever you are doing. Even when I drink a cup of tea, I savor the moment as a little quiet time. I bring in and use all my physical senses as I sip this aromatic tea, and use the gentle sipping motion as a form of meditation to spend some quiet reflective time in the temple of my soul. I hold the mug of tea in both my palms; I smell its sweet aroma and look at it with mindfulness. I take a sip, swallow slowly, and breathe in before slowly breathing out. I imagine the people that picked the tea leaves so that I may enjoy it. I drink my tea in the here and now, in the present moment, and say to myself, “I am alive – I am a soul – I am a miracle.”

Being in the present moment can be wonderful, but it takes times and practice. Notice when you are experiencing your signs of not being in the present moment and bring yourself back to the present moment. Be accepting of yourself and your emotions, if you feel worry setting in for instance, you can accept that feeling, label it as “worry,” then direct your mind to something else and breathe in the present moment.

Remember also, that when I write an article, I set out to write it for many, but in reality… I know they are always reminders for me as well!

Live a Soul-filled life!