Learning to be in the Moment - episode 94
Oh my goodness. This 25-year old has some major wisdom to share with us today. Was I that insightful at her age? I’d like to think so but I wonder. Michelle Blackwell, or Mimi as she’s known, has recently taken a big risk and switched careers. She shares with us her desire to be more fulfilled in her work and all she has learned in this season of her life.
I’m not sure if it was a bracelet or earrings. You likely heard a little jingle throughout our conversation. I’m going to liken it to Christmas bells…From changing small things, like your daily habits, to bigger things like shifting your mindset, Mimi knows growth occurs outside your comfort zone. I applaud the truth of this. It’s worth the risk to do the scary thing. Otherwise you’ll always wonder, What if I’d done that? Let’s say it doesn’t work out. Well then you have some new things to take with you to the next thing. And by all means, learn to be in the moment.
Ambitious. Generous. Compassionate.
— Mimi Blackwell
I Struggle Too
Thoughts from Learning to be in the Moment
Like many other people, I struggle with being in the moment. I tend to wander into the near future, the far-off future or sometimes I’ll take a trip down memory lane and ponder some things that have already happened. I would like to cultivate better practices for being right here, right now. To do so I asked our go-to friend, Google to help me out. Type in living in the moment and this is some of what you get:
What are you experiencing in this moment?
What is happening for you right now?
What are you feeing in this moment?
What is happening in your field right now?
(Questions courtesy of Mandala Mind by Nicole Koch.)
For me numbers 1 and 2 seem an awful lot alike. Number 4 doesn’t resonate for me, and that’s ok. I honestly can’t see myself spending a bunch of “now” time on all four questions. But, I rather like numbers 1 and 2 as a pair. What are you experiencing? How do you feel? They rather work for me and I do believe I will give them a try. I’ll let you know.
Another resource I really enjoyed, ways to help you be present. I selected a handful that really spoke to me:
Separate yourself from your thoughts.
Choose to smile more.
Forgive those who have hurt you, including yourself.
Appreciate all of your sensory experience.
Work hard for your future dreams.
Enjoy the job you do.
Break free from worry.
Look for new solutions in life.
Notice the ordinary things you ignore every single day.
Practice active listening.
Take time for laughter.
Turn off your device.
(Questions courtesy of Eric at Antimaximalist.)
Excellent advice don’t you think? I think I’ve gotten better at forgiving, working hard, enjoying my job (This podcast is a job? I love it, can’t you tell?), active listening and breaking free from worry. I’d give myself mixed results in choosing to smile, looking for solutions and turning off my device. I have a long way to go in separating myself from my thoughts, appreciating all sensory experience and noticing ordinary things. My task is clear. To use the above questions as a guide, as a gentle reminder to be more in the moment, to experience the present when it is with me. I want to get better at this. What about you?
Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.
— Mother Teresa
