There is no question that the value of living in the present is beyond measure. Living in the present allows us to concentrate our attention on what is happening right here, right now, without distraction from the "what-if's" and "what could-be's." Letting go of unresolved issues of the past or a belief that yesterday was a happier time; letting go of future promises [when I ________ then I will _______], allows us to focus on the here and now. Letting go reinforces the amount of energy directed towards our current actions, interactions and relationships. We can truly hear the voices of others when our minds are not drifting.Imagine letting go of the worry about the past and projections of the future. What a relief!The good news is that your family and friends will appreciate your intense focus on their conversation of the moment, your attention to the relationship. The bad news is that they may find you a little more boring than in the past.Boring because your conversation may no longer include the dramas of last week, those shared stories with their exciting twists and turns. Instead your conversation will be focused on today, right now....and some of that "right now" won't be interesting news. That might not sound very exciting to the one you're sharing with especially when we've become so used to hearing about and anticipating the shared drama.However, the benefits received in truly living in the present will far outweigh any disappointments about your ability to entertain friends and family! You will feel calmer, more peaceful, with renewed energy, as your energy won't be drained away by what already occurred or what is yet to happen.Accomplishments occur effortlessly when energy is not diverted. The clarity of work and play happens on a whole new level, one that refreshes and renews along the way.It's probably one of the greatest challenges, to live in the present, yet when achieved, even if one moment at a time until it becomes a more regular habit, it is difficult to articulate what life feels like. I can only urge you to try it. When you find yourself drifting backwards in time, say to yourself, "What I Know to Be True is that I'm here, I'm now." When you find yourself dreaming of what you will do upon reaching a goal or accomplishing something down the road, say to yourself, "What I Know to Be True is that I'm here right now and although I see clearly what is on the way, my focus is here and now."What We Know to Be True is that magic happens when you live in the present...so let us know how this exercise works for you and what magic happens for you...-Lisa
