Practicing being present

This isn’t one of my typical posts, but I decided to get a little personal today in hopes of striking a chord with anyone else out there that is dealing with the same issue of not practicing being present.

Practicing Being Present

True confession y’all…I’ve had a difficult time focusing these past couple months. I’m going to blame it on this whole RV fiasco, but the truth is I’m struggling with being present.

What’s funny is it didn’t really hit me until I was lying in bed last night, thinking about a post I need to write for the RSDSA, and trying to pinpoint what has really helped me cope with my CRPS issues. In case you didn’t know, a few years ago I was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and otherwise known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. It’s a disease that affects the nervous system and causes chronic pain, which made it difficult for me to use my right hand for even the simplest of tasks.

I have come such a long way and am sooooo grateful for that! This all happened before I started this blog – and is actually a huge part of what inspired me to start it in the first place. You can read more about that story here.

I don’t like to talk about it much because every time I do, the pain comes racing back and fearful thoughts quickly enter my mind. This started to happen again last night and rather than drift off into negative thoughts about how this pain could impact my future or get scared it may never go away, I took some deep breaths and reminded myself to stay present. A few moments later the pain subsided and I sorta had an “Aha!” moment.

You can call me a weirdo or crazy, but I am a true believer in the power of positive thinking, and being in “the now”. This doesn’t mean it always comes easy, but I know that I have control over my thoughts and that positive thoughts lead to positive outcomes and visa versa. I’m not going to get real deep into that here, but bring this up because it’s so easy to get caught up in the “what if” and forget about the moment you are in now.

Where did the time go?

I’m all about creating goals and dreaming about the possibilities that lie ahead, but lately, those ideas are creeping up more often and the days are passing more quickly as a result. This has left me wondering where did the time go?

Ever since we decided to go on an RVing adventure I’ve spent countless hours doing research and thinking about the day we head out on the road, but I’ve also dedicated so much time to it that I’m forgetting to enjoy each day leading up to it. The last thing I want is to lose sight of the journey before the destination gets here. Know what I’m sayin’?

So if you are excited about an upcoming event or daydreaming about a better future, that’s awesome, just don’t forget to enjoy today. And if you are worried about mistakes made in the past, bills, health, or relationships, just remember that fear doesn’t live in the now, only in the past and future. So take some deep breaths and enjoy the journey of life.

All that matters is this moment. Right. Now.

One of the first books I ever read that helped me with practicing being present was “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle which has since led to several others (maybe someday I’ll share a list on here). That was several years ago but I’m thinking of picking the book back up as a refresh. Have you ever read it or have any books you recommend for practicing being present? If so I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

I made this 8 x10 printable with the quote “Wherever you are, be all there” by Jim Elliot as a reminder for myself to always practice being present, and you can download it for free by clicking on the “download” button below.