What Moment Are You In?

This month I am celebrating six years as a massage therapist. I can still remember my graduation from massage school like it was yesterday. I felt overwhelmed by the future. Was I really ready to have other people's well being in my hands?! What if I did something wrong? What if I actually hurt someone? What if, what if, what if? Ahh!

Through the years my most important discovery has been that when I am fully present in each moment my work is truly its most effective and rewarding (And, no, I've never hurt anyone). Now there must be something to this 'living in the moment' thing because these days you hear it every where you go. The meditation and spiritual guru's have been advocates for ages but more surprisingly, I've been hearing it all over the social media scene. From fashion bloggers to college kids, the moment is now.

So why the hype? For me there is an endless chain reaction of benefits. The most important one: it gives you a mute button for the voice in your head. The voice we all fall victim to, the catty, selfish, self destructive voice that is very good at giving you all the obstacles and reasons you will not succeed. Or is that just the voice in my head? Once your head is quiet it is unbelievable how much beauty, joy and simplicity you are able notice around you. With out the distraction of self defeating dialog your attention can focus on your current surroundings and activities. Summarized: less stress, more enjoyment!

When is the last time you gave your full attention to something without thinking about a bill that needs to be paid or if you were well received during an important meeting? Past and future distractions are just that, distractions. There is absolutely nothing you can do about either one. The only thing you can do is your best right now. Even if you have an ideal prediction of what may happen in the future it is still just a prediction. Things can change in an instant and if you are fixated on something happening a certain way in the future you are more likely to be disappointed.

I'm not saying give up on goals and dreams. Goals and dreams are very important. Take the time to dream, dream BIG! Just be in the moment while dreaming rather than drifting off to dream during a presentation and missing all the important details. You can even go as far as scheduling time to dream and make a list of ways to get there. Dream about what it feels like to accomplish that goal as if you already have. The point is, give each item on your list your full attention at the moment you are doing it. Your full attention allows you to do the best job possible and that means your dream unfolds in the brightest light possible; even if it looks completely different than you thought it would.

Staying in the moment is a continual practice. You will not quiet the narcissistic voice in your head over night. But, simply being aware that the voice is distracting you from your highest potential is enough to silence it if only for a minute or two. The more you are aware of it, the less you have to remind yourself to ignore it. Like any skill, it takes practice to get it right. Once it's quiet, or the volume is at least turned down, it is shockingly apparent how little is actually standing in the way of your best possible life.

I'm not an expert, I certainly still get lost in my head, but the majority of my moments have evolved into a quiet calm that can be carried throughout my day.