The Element of Understanding Time is a Precious Gift and Its Hope for Being in the Moment

Time is of the essence.

Whenever we get The Gift of Time, we should grateful.

Every moment of time is a precious gift.

Right now, as you are reading this, you are enjoying the precious gift of a moment in time.

All 7 billion of us on the planet are enjoying the precious gift of a moment in time.

The 7 billion includes the babies being born this very minute.

What should we be doing with this precious gift of a moment in time?

Forget the past.  What we did with it doesn’t matter.

We are not condemned by it.

Forget the future.

Our past doesn’t have to equal the future.

Now is all that matters.

Now is all we need focus on.

The time to look at things with different eyes is now.

The time to think of things differently is now.

The time to use our imagination is now.

The time to use our gifts is now.

The time to be in the moment is now.

Now is an opportunity for renewal.

Whatever you have learned, you can learn something new.

Now!

Now is an opportunity for change.

Whatever you have been doing, you can do something different.

Now!

Now is an opportunity to explore new possibilities.

Whatever possibilities you have explored, you have new ones to explore.

Now!

Lift up your head.

Now!

Open your eyes.

Now!

Pick up that pen.

Now!

Take up that paintbrush.

Now!

Put on those gym shoes.

Now!

Walk up to that podium.

Now!

Pick up that phone.

Now!

The time to believe in yourself and to trust yourself has not passed and is not in the future.

It is now!

The time to believe in miracles has not passed and is not in the future.

It is now!

The time to seek better ways to look after yourself has not passed and is not in the future.

It is now!

The time to adopt new response patterns has not passed and is not in the future.

It is now!

The time to find out you are not alone and to feel connected has not passed and is not in the future.

It is now!

The time to take your destiny into your hands has not passed and is not in the future.

It is now!

Yes, now!

Say to yourself: “Happy New Now”

Say to yourself: “This is my moment.”

Say to yourself: “I am a breathing, conscious being with the capacity to be fully present in the moment.”

Blow away the past as you would the petals of a dandelion.

Hold an imaginary dandelion in your hand (which represents your past failures and disappointments) and blow the petals away.

Hold an imaginary dandelion in your hand (which represents your future anxieties) and blow the petals away.

There - the past and the future are gone.

What you are left with is the glorious present.

Summon up the will to appreciate every bit of it.

Every last bit of it!

Even the sunshine falling on dappled leaves.

Even the blister on your toe.

Make the most of the beautiful glorious present.

Heed these words from Ecclesiastes 5:18-20: Enjoy the blessing of each day!

And these words of Chanakya: “We should not fret for what is past, nor should we be anxious about the future; men of discernment deal only with the present moment.”

And these words of the Buddha: “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”

And these words which Prophet Mohammad said: “There are two blessings which many people lose: they are health and free time for doing good.”

Here’s how you can be present in the moment.

As jaded as you feel, even now there is something you haven’t yet done.

Find it.  Do it.

Now!

As much as you have spoken, even now there are words you haven’t said.

Find them.  Say them.

Now!

As much as you have grown, even now there are areas in which you have yet to grow.

Find them. Stretch yourself in them.

Now!

Wherever you are, whatever your limitations, the choice is yours to say, do and be something.

Now!

Now can be spelled in different ways….

It can be spelled: F-R-E-E-D-O-M. It can be spelled B-E-A-U-T-Y. It can be spelled: P-E-A-C-E.

You can be free of something. Now!

Your mind can be filled with beautiful thoughts. Now!

You can experience peace. Now!

Vicktor Frankl was able to feel blessed inside a concentration camp.

How he did it was by finding meaning in the moment.

Can you find meaning in the moment?

“The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.” says Abraham Maslow.

You and I should take our mental wellness into our own hands.

Here’s some concentrated wisdom from the book Now by Eckhart Tolle to help us...

When we hear about someone dying, or we contemplate our own death, these words can give us perspective:

“Watch any plant or animal and let it teach you acceptance of what is, surrender to the Now.

Let it teach you Being.

Let it teach you integrity — which means to be one, to be yourself, to be real.

Let it teach you how to live and how to die, and how not to make living and dying into a problem.”

When we are crippled by fearful thoughts, these words may help us out of our funk:

“Any action is often better than no action, especially if you have been stuck in an unhappy situation for a long time. If it is a mistake, at least you learn something, in which case it's no longer a mistake. If you remain stuck, you learn nothing.”

When our minds begin to pick at old wounds, or our hearts beat wildly with concern for the future, these words can help break our chain of thoughts:

“All negativity is caused by an accumulation of psychological time and denial of the present. Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry - all forms of fear - are caused by too much future, and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non forgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.”

When we start fretting about the “problem of the day”, or something not going as planned, these words can be the glass of cold water we need in our face:

“The mind unconsciously loves problems because they give you an identity of sorts.”

When we become impatient or restless, these words can make us more self-aware:

“Give up waiting as a state of mind. When you catch yourself slipping into waiting. . . snap out of it. Come into the present moment. Just be, and enjoy being. If you are present, there is never any need for you to wait for anything. So next time somebody says, “Sorry to have kept you waiting,” you can reply, “That’s all right, I wasn’t waiting. I was just standing.”

And finally, when we find ourselves feeling hopeless and despairing, these words can restore us:

“The power for creating a better future is contained in the present moment: You create a good future by creating a good present.”

Yes, as Tolle says, the power for creating a better future is contained in the present moment.  

So we should start creating a good present.

When?

The answer is a three letter word defined as the present time or moment.

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As always, thanks for reading and have a great day and week…..M…..a Pearl Seeker like you. And as Charles Schulz said, "Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia." Thanks to Ajay for his comments and thanks to the rest of you for your pins and votes.  Much appreciated.