posted June 20, 2007 08:50 AM
Being MindfulCreating the Reality We Already Have
by Janet Alston Jackson
Some of us spend a lot of time trying to create our reality in the form of visualizing more money, better relationships and success in our careers. When these visualizations do not manifest into what we dreamed we get frustrated.
Mindfulness, learning to live in the moment, is about being aware that the perfect world is already within us. It's about waking up from the dream like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz and realizing that we already have everything we have desired in our hearts. We don't have to go off to far away places in our minds or put a lot of energy into the law of attraction to create our dreams. Mindfulness is being aware that in each moment we have been given, there is a present, a gift, waiting for us to discover.
How do we tap into the gifts our higher power has already given us? How do we accept the gifts of peace, abundance, health and success? The answer is to live in the now. For example when we are doing a task and our mind wanders, we can gently bring it back to the present moment instead of letting it run rampant hashing over yesterday or worrying about what we will do when we finish. This helps to calm our stressful, busy minds which always think we don't have enough in life. It keeps us searching and doing instead of being and appreciating what we already have.
Finding moments during our busy days to become aware of our breath to calm ourselves is another way to live in the moment. We don't have to change the breath… just be aware of the inhales and exhales flowing. This helps to calm us and bring us back to centre. We can do this when we lie in bed at night, while standing in the shower, sitting at a red light in our cars, waiting for a meeting to begin, taking a moment before we eat, standing in a line, or wherever we can steal a few moments just to centre our selves. Of course if we can find more time to meditate that's great, but what's important is to frequently turn inside.
When we find those precious quiet moments, appreciating a sunset, or looking at a flower, we can then be thankful for the gifts we have already been given. It's important to give thanks for simple things we take for granted like waking up in the morning or even being able to read this article. How many people around the world have lost their sight?
If we tune into the gifts we already have, our hearts open to receive more, and suddenly more gifts materialize. If we want a relationship in our life, we need to be aware of the relationships we already have and give thanks.
When we are in a receptive mode of giving thanks, and not in a getting mode of trying to create, we discover the reality… the truth. Our Higher Power has already given us what we are seeking.
Janet Alston Jackson is the author of "A Cry for Light: A Journey into Love."