Psychology tells us the body physically reacts to thought, creating emotion. Every thought produces a feeling. Complaints are thoughts and hence they stimulate emotions. Now can you imagine the nature of the feelings they produce? Try it out. Whine to yourself about some situation in your life. How does it feel? Do you feel better once you’ve complained, or worse? Maybe you’ve blown off a little steam, but the thought pattern continues to do its work of stirring up resistance.
In the realm of Presence Practice, complaining is rejection of some aspect of what is. It wishes some situation or event were different than it is. It may even declare that Presence is impossible under the conditions it complains about. I am frequently asked: “What if the moment sucks?!!”
Presence is not something we practice to make things different or better. The benefit of Presence Practice is that it sets us free from life’s roller coaster of drama and resistance. Surrendering (completely accepting without reservation) to the facts and circumstances we find ourselves facing in-the-moment is essential to effectively dealing with the challenges of the Now. Presence doesn’t make bad good, it moves our Consciousness out of the pain we self-induce through resistance to What Is.
You may want to say you’ll only show up in the Now when you like it, that you’re going to save your Presence for the good stuff, but how will you know when the good stuff shows up if you’re not there, and who defines what’s good anyway? Your ego? Maybe what looks not so good is actually the miracle you sought. You’ll never know unless you embrace everything Now has to offer.
How can we be Here/Now if we don’t like what we find Here/Now? We can’t!! When we realize deeply the obvious FACT that Now is it, it is all we have, our values will adjust to embrace the beauty and simplicity of Presence. Imagine if all humanity were to make that simple shift in awareness. How would our world evolve?
Thank you. We all need to hear these words you’ve spoken in a supportive way every once in a while. I certainly benefited. Now to put them into action.
Again, Thanks:)
Some people label the avoidance of pain as escapist. But I think differently. I too have embraced the now, now and then, and while pain alleviation is one part, i think at a deeper level we need to find out how integral this sense of presence is. ie are we designed for it or do we have to really try ? i’ve been puzzling over this one for months now.
I believe Presence is a natural state and the way we generally are, unnatural. Australian Aborigines call ‘civilized’ people mutants. Presence is the return to nature when we give up our addiction to thinking.
I really like this one, James! One of the best book titles in my library is “Thank You for Being Such a Pain!” Just the title reminds me to realign the possibilities for lessons from the Now.
The life and world certainly be more beautiful Here and Now if all humanity were to realise it suddenly. 🙂 You right, we need to look for something to make and see our presence beautiful, and enjoy it for what it is. It is important to be conscious of yourself and your life and your actions in order to really enjoy Life!
If the moment is sucks, then there is something to it, that make it beautiful! Perhaps, you were hurt, and you cried. the beauty is your tears, as they helped you to release negativity and so on…
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