The Moments In Our Mind

In our time on the planet, we experience moments that can instigate joy and happiness, or pain and sorrow. It could be a moment of love, or anger, or frustration, or exhilaration. Each of of these moments will take us down a path in our mind’s eye, a path which is dependent upon how we perceive that moment at that specific point in time. The same issue, at different times of our lives, may lead to totally different responses, different reactions, and different actions. One day, a benign response; the next, a response that wreaks havoc on our soul, and creates disharmony and insecurity in us.

The power of the mind can take us into uncharted waters and places we’ve never been. The mind puts its own spin on everything. We could be emotionally labile – or emotionally volatile – and the mind spins its tales and weaves its webs and conjures up the net effect to our psyche and to ourselves.

The challenge is to stay in the moment, to accept the moment as it is, to reflect, and to act mindfully. No easy task, indeed.

The moment, the “present”, is truly a gift for us. But we all realize that it can be extremely difficult to simply “be” in the moment. Accepting and embracing the moment for what it is can be tough – and letting go within the moment can be an incredibly difficult battle waged within.

It is pretty easy to respond out of chaos and drama. It is easy to be overcome with emotion about the “what if” and the “if only”. But with all of our efforts focused on that chaos and drama, how can you experience the moment at all? You may even know what the “right” response is but feel compelled to do otherwise simply because it is easier or because that is the response that is most comfortable for you at that moment. There will be times when it is exceedingly difficult to maintain focus on those things over which we have control.

Hey, nobody said it would be easy to be mindful and reflective. But anything that is worthwhile in life is probably not easy.

There are times when we may feel like life is exacting a heavy toll on us. The dark cloud of insecurity hovers over us, with self-doubts raining down upon us. The rain may last but a moment, a day, or more. These are the times when we must be vigilant to the process, be aware of our own foibles and tendencies and self-perceptions, and to stand tall in the face of the adversity that can be conjured up within our minds.

We can’t change the past. We can only work with the present, the beautiful moment that exists right now. Embrace it as it is and mindfully look forward to a response that embraces your future as you dream it, and not your past as you have lived it.

Photo credits: slimmer_jimmer