Live in the Moment

“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the 
moment, live in the breath.” ― Amit Ray

Since anxiety tends to be very future oriented, it often shifts your focus to dangers and threats that have not happened yet.  Anxiety will threaten you with the dangers of loosing your  job, even though you currently are employed.  Anxiety will warn you about the pain connected to the ending of relationship that may in this moment be thriving.  Anxiety will scream that your child is in danger, before he or she even walks out the front door.

While you worry about the upsets that haven't yet happened, what are you missing in the here and now?  While the treats of a job loss weigh on you, do you hear the compliment from your supervisor?  As you worry about potential threats to your relationship, are you missing a loving kiss or touch from your partner?  

In this moment, you have the power to savor and enjoy.  You can notice the comfort of your chair or the richness of your drink.  In this moment, you can loose yourself in a soothing song or the taste a decedent chocolate.   You can feel the warmth of the sun, or the chill in the air.  In this moment, you can give and receive kindness.  In this moment, you can breathe and calm your body and ground yourself in all that you have to be grateful. 

Fear

“Every man, through fear, mugs his aspirations a dozen times a day.” ~ Brendan Francis

How has fear been a bully toward to you regarding your dreams?  Has it shifted your focus to all of the possible catastrophes that have not yet happened; to all of the things that can go wrong? Has it shifted your focus away from the very thing that speaks to your heart?

Imagine if fear were an actual person, yelling his or her critiques at you.  “You’ll make a mistake!  You’ll mess it up!  You’ll never be able to do it!  You aren't strong enough, smart enough, attractive enough, good enough!”  You may have the urge to punch him or her in the face since the voice feels so demotivating and downright cruel!  Now imagine someone who you trust and who cares deeply for you is speaking, what would he or she say in response to fear?

Even when fear is present, which it definitely will be from time to time, it doesn't have to have the final word in your plans.  Fear is uncomfortable, but so is abandoning your aspirations.   The good news is that you don’t have to conquer your fear to take steps forward toward your goal... you just need to take steps forward, fear in tow!