What 99% of people don't know about NOW
This is how you join the 1% of 1%
Paying attention to the present moment of your life is like a skill you learn, the more you practice it the better you become.
Being present helps you realize how important your ''now'' is, not the past nor future but now.
Where you keep your attention is where you fix up all your energy. If your attention remains in the past, you end up feeling depressed about something ( or someone ) you can't change which becomes a familiar past your mind becomes accustomed to.
If your attention is stayed on predicting the future, you fall into the trap of anxiety trying to know the unknown.
Living in a familiar past leads you to a predictable future and when your attention remains in the past or travels to the future, it's hard.
''If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the moment'' - Lao Tzu
For four years I lived in the past and future but never in the now, which made me both anxious and depressed. This is how 87% of people in the world live their life, anxious and depressed.
You see, our mind is connected to everything in our lives.
The more we stay in the familiar past like a past toxic relationship, a huge life-changing contract lost, someone dear you lost, etc … the more our future becomes predictable.
This applies to the anxious part too. The more we stay in the future like: ''What will happen when I leave my corporate job and start my dream business? I think I'd fail'' - We paint a kind of picture to live in.
This is not to say having a vision for your future is bad, no. The point here is you can truly enjoy your life when you understand the power of now. The power that comes with the present moment.
I had been a ''chronic overthinker''. I worried about everything. I worried about random social media posts and people's comments on particular topics, I worried about a new business venture that eventually always flopped. I worried about just about everything and became so addicted to overthinking.
Overthinking is a classic definition of ''anxiety - depression'' because you are using your familiar past to worry about an unknown future.
I've grown more knowledgeable over the years.
Now, I grasp how staying in the present moment and feeling grateful for it can transform your life.
For the past 6 months, I've dedicated more time to staying conscious and connected to my present moment. I understand the power of meditation and ''quiet time''. It's all about connecting with the higher version of myself that isn't overthinking about:
My body
My environment
Or Time
In this letter, I want to give you the process I've used to:
Incorporate a novel appreciation system into my life ( that has made the universe and everything around respond to me positively which has helped me live a better life in the last 6 months than In the last 19 years 6 months of my life )
Let's eat in
Fall in love with YOU …
''I love myself - I dress in the most luxurious wears''
''I use the most expensive body care products because I love myself''
Is this always true though? Do you always go out of your way to look a certain way because you truly love yourself?
The idea of people loving themselves is quite ''obvious'' - I mean duh!
But I don't think the majority of people do what they do because they truly love themselves. This isn't about conceited egotism or narcissism - which isn't self-love at all.
Real self-love is a deep connection with your highest self and an unshakable ability to forgive your lowest.
Self-love isn't something 98% of people in the world today allow themselves to feel and this causes insecurities, jealousy, envy, and all sorts of sour vibes.
But if you want to experience the depth and power of truly loving yourself then:
Appreciate how special and unique you are - You are unique, period!
You've got to appreciate that.
Drown yourself in positive affirmations - This is to rewire your brain neurons
Do things you love - Work on that project, start that new business, aim for that new position, or hang out with friends.
Let the love in - ( I only recently started allowing myself to receive compliments. I didn't think anything I did deserve accolades of any sort. receive love with gratitude, you deserve it.
Forgive yourself - Don't get worked up here but this is important. Learn to forgive your lowest and bounce higher again.
When you intentionally set your mind on your being and self, you begin to notice potential patterns to live a better life, no matter what.
Staying present … Loving yourself
You know, sometimes we can't just help but worry about things. The connection between self-love and staying present is gratitude.
For who you are and who you are becoming.
All the stuff we are so worried about creating is here and available to be taken. The life you badly want is already within your reach, it's available to you right now.
The life I want is here … why can't I see it?
One time in high school, we were taught about electricity. I found the concept quite intriguing but today, I see how it relates to the ''now''.
If you remember the theory, it says ''Electricity can neither be created nor destroyed but can only be conducted towards a thing '' ( okay, this definition seems a bit rusty … you get the point )
Think of your ''now'' as electricity. Before the invention of the electric bulb, most people weren't even aware of its existence but it had always been there. It had always been waiting for that person to ''pull it'' into greater use.
This is how we bring our desires to reality. We only need to understand how to manifest it into our physical reality.
How do you stay in your NOW?
Meditate - Well, that's what I'd normally say first. But it's too vague if I truly want you to grasp this - By the way, if you think meditation is some mindless activity only ''rich people'' do then just stop. Yes, stop.
That said, how do you remain present?
Let's dig in
To remain present;
Stop and notice how you feel right now
Feel the air on your skin
Feel your heart beating
Your eyes seeing.
Your ears hearing
Notice the energy within you and outside you
Shut off your thoughts and feel a sense of connection with a higher power - In my case, God.
Now, B-r-e-a-t-h-e-e-e-e
The more time you spend in the present moment the happier, richer, and easier your life becomes. The more time you spend truly loving yourself, the more fulfilled and grateful you become.
Being present gets you out of your head.
It helps you connect with supreme energy.
Love yourself.
Stay in the present moment.
-Joy ''Phoenixx'' Usman.