Why You Should Give Time Traveling the Finger.
A Reason For Staying in the Here and Now.
I’d like to discuss the time machine in your possession. Yes, time travelling does exist, it always has. And yes, you’ve always had a time machine, and boy you’ve been using it.
Since there’s never been a manual, I won’t get into the nitty-gritty of its mechanics and of how this machine actually works. In all honesty, even the experts don’t really know how it operates. Don’t believe me, here’s what an expert scientist had to say: “… but today, in 2015, I can’t tell you, nor can anyone else, how the (time machine) functions...” See told you. As for the year, trust me, no breakthroughs have happened since 2015.
Now before you go dashing off to your profile settings to add ‘time traveller’ to your profile info, I’m here to make a case on why you shouldn’t be using the time machine, nor should you be travelling through time in the way probably have been.
They say thoughts are things. But what they should say, is thoughts are things that can take you back and forth in time. Things that take you wherever you want to go, in theory. However, in reality, they usually take you to the same places over, and over, and over again. You see, a thought doesn’t really have any power, but when you give your attention to certain thoughts, they begin to gain power.
For instance, if you say something silly to a bunch of people in a social setting (and we all do from time to time), then think to yourself “am such a loser,” the time machine in your mind instantaneously powers up and takes you to places that confirm your thought. It takes you to places in time where you said or did stupid things, and before you know it, you feel worthless, miserable and like a loser.
Your body, taking cues from how you feel, responds with a slumped posture which triggers your mind to think thoughts that correspond with that posture. This forms a vicious cycle, that you usually aren’t aware of.
As it were, thoughts in and of themselves, have little sway over us. We can watch them come and go — they get bored when, despite their persistence, they notice you’re not playing with them. But the moment you choose to engage or entertain them, they become like that guy or gal you dislike who keeps coming around, calling and messaging all the time because you keep entertaining them.
While you think about that, watch this short video on staying present.
Here and now is all we truly have, and yet, how often we make it the least of our priorities. We treat the present like a plastic wrapper that stands between us and the gift we’re anticipating — the future, where money abounds, or the past when life was a lot better. The present becomes a thing to be gotten rid of, to tear away at.
As it turns out though, what you do with your now, is the gift. Consider what Eckhart Tolle says:
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.”
As easy as it sounds, living in the moment isn’t quite as easy. So when you find yourself thinking about the future, or obsessing about the past, remind yourself that life is happening at this moment.
Thoughts are simply an illusion to keep you from the here and now, or as Ivan says ‘make your NOW your WOW!’ (Okay, you got me, I don’t usually say that, nor am I into the habit of referring to myself in the third person, but you have to admit, it has a nice ring to it.)
Here are 5 mantras suggested by Brianna Wiest that have helped me stay in the moment. Pick one that resonates with you and remind yourself throughout the day that:
- All that exists is what’s in front of me.
- I am here.
- Start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can.
- My life consists of my days — what am I doing with this one?
- Be where your feet are
Remember:
“The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green Earth in the present moment, to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now.”
Thich Nhat Hanh.
Thanks for sticking around to the end.
Check out this short, super insightful video on staying in the present.
By the way, the expert mentioned earlier is Dr Thomas R. Insel, a neuroscientist and former Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, quoted in an article titled: How much do we really know about the human brain. (I just replaced the term ‘brain’ with ‘time machine.’)
Arrivederci!
Suggested reading:
101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think. (by Brianna Wiest)
