The Power of Now

This word picture is really helpful to me in grasping this concept of living in the "now".

I am LEARNING (it's a process) to stop obsessively looking at the rear-view mirror of the past, the magnifying glass of the present and the telescope into the future and just sit back and enjoy the ride of right here, right now. It's work to retrain the brain, but so much lighter, freer, peaceful. Much of my past carries regret and pain and worrying about the future brings on fear and anxiety. Why bring those negative feelings from moments that are not currently existing into this moment you are living right now?

I'm not saying we shouldn't feel pain or anxiety. If our current moment is one of pain, then by all means, we need to FEEL it; process it. That's the only way to ensure it doesn't become baggage we carry into your future. I think I've too often I've cut short the process of feeling the pain. Don't wanna feel it. Don't wanna be unhappy, so I just shrug it off and go on. But then it creeps up later. That's not good. I've had relationships suffer from past unprocessed emotional baggage and that's not fair to anyone. It's gotta be okay to feel what we feel in the moment and then... let it go.

The past is no longer here, it has only the power we give it. The future has not yet arrived, and most things we worry about never come to fruition, so it also has only the power we give it. The only real power lies in now.

And for my fellow believers in God, here's a cool thought: God's name is not I WAS, nor is it I WILL BE. His name means I AM. How's that for the power of now? :)