this Too Shall Pass
This Too Shall Pass…Enjoy The Now
“Change is the only constant in life”
Have you ever wondered why most people resist and fear change when they know that the only certain aspect of life is change itself? Why is it that we have trouble remembering the impermanence of life during our best and our worst times? To say it simply, we are all constantly searching for happiness.
Change is uncomfortable. And, as human beings, we naturally resist being uncomfortable. It makes us feel uneasy, uncertain, and unsure. We enjoy being comfortable and thanks to our ability to adapt, we can get used to almost any situation – the good and the bad. When times are good, we try to hold on to the joy by attaching ourselves to whatever is happening in our lives. We think about how we don’t want the moment to end, how the future may not be as good, or that it’s too good to be true. When things are bad, we wonder if we’ll be stuck this way forever, long to go back in time, or wish that tomorrow would come sooner. In every moment, we are searching for that comfortable state, the permanent happiness that we all crave to attain. However, what we often forget is nothing stays the same – with every passing moment, change is happening.
Enjoy It…
No matter what you are doing, who you’re with, or how you feel, life goes on. Therefore, everything we do and everything we experience is temporary. Life itself is impermanent. So, doesn’t it make sense that the most logical thing we can do in any situation is to remind ourselves that “this too shall pass”, embrace change, and just enjoy, appreciate, and savor the present moment? We are able to attain this mindset once we fully accept that life is constantly changing. When we truly accept this, we are able to pause, step back, and be mindful of the moment, soaking it all in.
The Food Tastes Better!
Before we get into how to practice being in and savoring the moment, let’s look at why we should strive to do so. Enjoying the present moment with the mindset that “this too shall pass” yields several benefits including…
Allows you to be completely mindful and aware what is going on now. You gain peace of mind that the past is in the past and the future hasn’t arrived yet; allowing yourself to just be where you are.
You’re not as stressed. Being in the present moment provides space and clarity to look at a situation differently, resulting in responding to that situation better.
Your relationships improve. When you’re present, you’re mind isn’t distracted by racing thoughts. You give your full attention to the people you’re with, allowing that person to feel understood and close to you.
Your food tastes better! Instead of being distracted by your thoughts, you’ll be present, able to savor and appreciate what you’re doing…and eating!
Doing It…
So, now that we know some of the benefits of being in the now, let’s look at how we can actually practice this…
Pause! Throughout the day, train yourself to pause. Take a few “mindful moments” and look around. Remind yourself that this moment is going to pass. What can you take from right now? What do you notice? How do you feel? Focus on the good.
Meditate. At one point during the day, take 10 minutes to sit, close your eyes, and meditate. Yes, your thoughts will race. Yes, you will get frustrated. Keep going. The point of meditation is not to shut your mind off but to simply observe your thoughts, allowing them to pass without attaching yourself to them.
Choose a color! When you become aware of your mind wandering, an effective technique to bring yourself back to the present is to choose a color from the rainbow and see how much you can notice with that particular color wherever you are. This allows you to appreciate the beauty around you while grounding yourself back in the now.
Life changes. This moment is fleeting. Everything is impermanent. Embrace it by stopping and smelling the roses sitting in front of you.