Before we begin,
Let's explore the answer to the question,
What does it mean to embrace the now?
It means accepting the present moment just as it is.
It means finding happiness,
The only place it can truly be found,
The here and now.
Humans are creatures of habit.
We are thinking machines with an average of 70,
000 thoughts per day,
And most of those thoughts are the same ones we had the day before.
Our thoughts have a tendency to pull us into the past or project us into the future.
When we replay the past wishing it had been different,
We are wishing the now was different.
When we think,
Once I get through this or attain that,
I will finally feel better,
We are telling ourselves that the now is lacking in some way.
Now if you haven't already,
Please find a comfortable seated position.
Take a deep breath in,
And on the exhale,
Feel your shoulders drop.
Let your jaw soften,
And your forehead relax.
Allow your eyes to softly close as we learn how to start embracing the now.
Think back to when you woke up this morning.
Do you remember the first thought you had?
Perhaps there were a few moments of peace as you came into the waking state,
But then did you just start to think about all you had to accomplish today,
Running through your mental to-do list?
Did you think about the ways you believe you failed yesterday and how you must do better today?
Imagine now if you had taken a moment to lie in bed and hear the birds singing outside your window,
Or to gaze upon the face of a loved one sleeping beside you.
The possibility for beauty,
Connection,
Creativity,
And love is always here,
But we often miss it.
Instead of focusing on what should have been or what could be,
Try bringing your attention to what is.
Think of young children at play.
Their actions are pure and unrestricted.
They live moment to moment,
Flowing from one possibility to the next as each arises.
Just being around them is a good way to remember the feeling of present moment awareness.
This type of present moment awareness takes practice,
But even just a first step opens the door to the happiness that is as close as your next breath.
Start to take time in your day,
It could be just a few seconds,
Where you stop and simply notice what's happening around you.
Feel the softness on your loved one's hand and yours.
Taste the richness of your food,
Hear the music of the world outside your window.
Drink in the bounty of the present moment.
This is the key to living a fulfilled and meaningful life.
Now,
Let's experience one of the simplest and yet most powerful ways to connect to the present moment,
Through the breath.
We'll practice a technique that uses the belly to open up the bottom portion of the lungs by expanding and contracting the diaphragm,
Allowing fresh oxygen to penetrate deep into the bottom of the lungs.
Ensure you're sitting comfortably with your spine erect.
Place one or both hands on your belly.
Take a slow,
Deep breath in through your nose.
Filling the air,
Expand your belly for a count of five.
Exhale slowly through the nose and feel the belly pull towards the spine for a count of five.
Continue like this on your own for a couple of minutes,
Breathing in to the count of five and out to the count of five.
In,
Expanding your belly,
And out,
Pulling the belly to the spine.
In,
And out.
Keeping your eyes closed,
Place your hands on your lap and allow your breath to return to normal.
Take a few moments to notice how you feel.
The calming effects of the breath are immediate.
Anytime you begin to feel overwhelmed and disconnected from yourself,
You can perform a few rounds of this simple breathing exercise.
Your breath is never in the future or the past.
It's always in the now.
The power of your breath will always be available to you whenever you need a reminder to embrace the present,
Which is truly a gift.
Namaste.
