*Welcome to my very first Manic Monday post. Every Monday I will post something mental health related. I hope you find these posts helpful.*
GIVEAWAY! For the month of August. Anyone who leaves a comment on a “Manic Monday” post will be eligible to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card. I’ll draw a random name on September 1st and email the winner their prize! Good Luck!
Evenings and weekends I’m a writer, but during the day I’m a mental health therapist. A book I recommend over and over to my clients is The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.
An issue nearly all my client’s struggle with—and you probably do too—is being in the present moment.
You might be thinking, “Being in the present moment? Huh? Where else would I be? Time travel doesn’t exist.”
Let me explain. Being in the present moment means NOT thinking about the future and NOT thinking about the past, just being where you are, doing what you’re doing right NOW.
Sounds simple right? It’s not. Our minds are always on. Always running. Which means we are always thinking. The sad truth is the majority of our thoughts are about the past or the future. Very rarely do we stop and really take in our present moment. During a beautiful sunset we’re not all there—our eyes are seeing the sky, but our minds are thinking. “I was a total meany to Fred. I shouldn’t have called him a jerk-face. Maybe I should apologize. But he’s done worse to me and never apologized. Oh, I can’t forget to order the cake tomorrow. And I need to do laundry and go to the grocery story.” When we are in our minds thinking about those past or future things, we miss the glorious things that are happening right here right NOW.
Think about it like this… Right now—in this moment—you are reading this. This is your now. If you are fully present in this moment, nothing else exists, but these words on your screen and the environment you are sitting in. This is your NOW.
A quick tip I use with my clients. Usually if you are feeling regret, guilt, or depression you are thinking about the past. If you are worrying or anxious you are thinking about the future. Sometimes the safest place to be (emotionally) is in the NOW.
Have you ever heard of Eckhart Tolle?
Have you read any of his other books?
Are there any topics you’d like me to discuss on Manic Monday?
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*Stay tuned*
You don’t want to miss Thursday’s Author on the Couch session with 2014 Golden Heart Finalist Jessica Ruddick. Her session is full of inspiration and words of wisdom for us all!
