The Here and Now Gift that Cannot be Redeemed Later

There are parts of our humanity with which we are at a tug-of-war. Until we shift our awareness, they operate as something of a perpetual landslide, concealing our better selves. The debris includes detritus such as worries, tensions and pressures, as well as fantasies of validation, admiration and security.

The usual framework is for us to take one artifact from the onslaught and, semi-consciously, have a friendly duel with it. It might sound like this: “Uhh! I don’t know if these are the right glasses! I certainly paid enough for them. I even told the optometrist I was good at making decisions. How do I fix it now? Well, gotta go.”

It is very possible that we were not, in fact, adroit enough to even notice the duel. If we were, often the next step is to deftly wad it down into something of a diminutive, single-serving size, and brand it as banal in hopes our consciousness will turn a blind eye. This preserves an artificial sense of well-being.

However, that single-serving size of self-condemnation is strangely loaded with preservatives. It has a shelf life that could rival powdered milk and Twinkies. Until it is resolved, it wears away at us. Energy, self-confidence and levity are strangely pitted, even if the issue seems superficial. Our handy biology, seeking to keep us among the living, reroutes some of our energy to handle that worry.

To boot, there are many concerns and wishes that will not simply vanish. How to handle aging parents or in what way to secure acknowledgment for career advancement are ongoing queries rooted in duty and purpose. They’re valid.

So how do we call off the tug-of-war match with our inherent flaws and limitations? We can crack open the gift of the Here and Now that cannot be redeemed later. This has everything to do with a stance of being ready to try, to risk, and to go through a situation. Doing so has everything to do with awareness. 

Use Awareness to Crack Open the Gift

1. Slow Down and Ease Up

Take a breath. Perceive whether you’re rushing, in the flow, procrastinating, or something else. Taking one breath can be enough to subtly reset. Now take two seconds, three if you wish to indulge, and let all of your muscles relax. Send the signal for your jaw, neck, shoulders, diaphragm, and back to calm. Now engage again, re-energized, to take on what you previously pushed away.

2. Notice and Note

Just see what’s there. Notice and note what your brain is nattering on about. If it feels ticklish and dodgy, you’re probably onto something. Give yourself a pass to go beyond the embarrassment, and identify exactly what it is that’s on your mind.

3. Say, “Thank You”

Neither a party trick, nor a gimmick, this step turns the tables on the issue. Saying, “thank you,” swaps the identity of the concern from a thorn to an advantage. It takes you from being the chump to becoming the champ! What insights and wins will come from understanding what’s present? How will an Aha! moment liquify barriers into stepping stones? Finding out starts with gratitude.

4. Accept

Welcome and receive the subject with equanimity. Its no longer an enemy, but rather part of the clan of markers comprising your experience. Now the edgy charge of the concern has melted. It looks a lot like a dog that had been viciously snarling, then simply shifted into an easy lope around the yard: no tension, just ease.

5. Be Curious

Neutrality, coupled with something of an investigative buoyancy, invites discovery. What’s there? The primary feature of this poised readiness is the distinct lack of judgment or any goal. There’s just a keen sense of anticipation.

6. Get Excited

This is the stage that brings energy, like a slow smile turning upward into a sunny, “Yes!” Now you can be on the hunt for the surprise gift. This requires surrendering to the course ahead without previewing it. The gift could end up being strength, but may only be gained via an arduous slog. Getting excited invites the adventure and gathers the momentum to see it through.

7. Let Go

This is the next level of acceptance, where there is a complete release of the original issue along with any conceptions around it. It is the conscious taking from one’s self the control, the wish to control, and illusion of control, and giving it all over.

Rescue the Moment

The moment can be rescued if we click into the Here and Now. This is the one and only opening at our disposal to shift circumstances for the better. There is no redeeming it later. Instead of being cheated by the landslide of thought debris, take a breath and decide where to step in and surf the ride. The gift is here. It begins with awareness.