Being present
My spiritual intention yesterday was to be present to each moment. Sounds simple enough. Yet, often, especially when I have a lot on my plate as I now do, I find my attention wandering to the past, to the future, or to lists of tasks I want and need to accomplish.
Even during less busy times, I have a wandering mind. I regret, play the what if game and imagine versions of my future. If talking with someone, rather than listening, I may be formulating my response of disagreement or preparing to share my similar experience. Rather than listening I may be outlining what the speaker should have said or did. I may be congratulating myself on not making the exact same mistakes they did or in some other ways calculating the points of myself and the speaker who merely wants to know that he or she is heard. Even with children I may feel a need to share my superior knowledge or insightfulness even if the child has far surpassed my knowledge which is true in many situations.
If this process sounds exhausting it is. Why then do so many of us avoid the simplicity and affirming process of being present? All of us know how good we feel when someone is truly present with us whether to hear our spoken works or our silence. None of us appreciate being judged or evaluated. None of us enjoy another person thinking they are more adept at criticizing us than we are. If we truly want advice or specific information we will ask for it.
What is it about being present with no other agenda which is so healing? New ideas or solutions very often arrive when I am being very quiet and not “trying” to conjure up a new idea or solutions. I merely need to allow my mind to be clear enough to receive it from the universe or some recess of my mind. When someone is truly listening with love and respect I hear myself more clearly. Perhaps only then that part of my mind which knows what to teach children or students is more accessible than the part of my mind which attempts to force ideals or solutions to arise from the depths of my mind. The folks singer, Arlo Guthrie, on the recording of Alice’s Restaurant, strummed his guitar while waiting for the next line to make its appearance.
I know a lot of people who use the steps of the 12-step program to guide them in their journey of recovery. Step one reminds one that when one admits one is powerless over Y one gains power. It is only by accepting powerlessness that one gains the strength which allows one to face life on life’s terms.
This is the power of having no other agenda than to be present. It is the power to begin a chain of “we” rather than “us and them”. This chain can grow exponentially until it circles the universe.
Written October 14, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
My spiritual intention yesterday was to be present to each moment. Sounds simple enough. Yet, often, especially when I have a lot on my plate as I now do, I find my attention wandering to the past, to the future, or to lists of tasks I want and need to accomplish.
Even during less busy times, I have a wandering mind. I regret, play the what if game and imagine versions of my future. If talking with someone, rather than listening, I may be formulating my response of disagreement or preparing to share my similar experience. Rather than listening I may be outlining what the speaker should have said or did. I may be congratulating myself on not making the exact same mistakes they did or in some other ways calculating the points of myself and the speaker who merely wants to know that he or she is heard. Even with children I may feel a need to share my superior knowledge or insightfulness even if the child has far surpassed my knowledge which is true in many situations.
If this process sounds exhausting it is. Why then do so many of us avoid the simplicity and affirming process of being present? All of us know how good we feel when someone is truly present with us whether to hear our spoken works or our silence. None of us appreciate being judged or evaluated. None of us enjoy another person thinking they are more adept at criticizing us than we are. If we truly want advice or specific information we will ask for it.
What is it about being present with no other agenda which is so healing? New ideas or solutions very often arrive when I am being very quiet and not “trying” to conjure up a new idea or solutions. I merely need to allow my mind to be clear enough to receive it from the universe or some recess of my mind. When someone is truly listening with love and respect I hear myself more clearly. Perhaps only then that part of my mind which knows what to teach children or students is more accessible than the part of my mind which attempts to force ideals or solutions to arise from the depths of my mind. The folks singer, Arlo Guthrie, on the recording of Alice’s Restaurant, strummed his guitar while waiting for the next line to make its appearance.
I know a lot of people who use the steps of the 12-step program to guide them in their journey of recovery. Step one reminds one that when one admits one is powerless over Y one gains power. It is only by accepting powerlessness that one gains the strength which allows one to face life on life’s terms.
This is the power of having no other agenda than to be present. It is the power to begin a chain of “we” rather than “us and them”. This chain can grow exponentially until it circles the universe.
Written October 14, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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