“Listen to your body’s wisdom, which expresses itself through signals of comfort and discomfort. When choosing a certain behavior, ask your body, “How do you feel about this?” If your body sends a signal of physical or emotional distress, watch out. If your body sends a signal of comfort or eagerness, proceed.” Deepak Chopra
While compromise is key to maintaining healthy and happy social, romantic, and familial relationships, we should not feel obliged to participate in every situation, activity, or engagement that is presented to us. Oftentimes, we find ourselves doing things that we really don’t want to do because we feel obligated for one reason or another. It takes a lot of energy to be engaged in something that we don’t feel necessarily comfortable or excited to take part in. You don’t always have to say yes.
Society, work, family, and friends oftentimes put a lot of pressure on us. There are all these “you should” situations that maybe we shouldn’t feel we have to do. It is key to listen to your inner voice and physical body when making a decision however big or small. The more we learn to listen to initial feelings and intuitions, the happier we will be in the long run.
When we are presented with an opportunity, whatever it might be, it is wise to listen to our how our minds and bodies react. Does the idea of saying yes make you anxiety, uncomfortable, or regretful? Or do you feel excited, eager, and confident? Engaging in activities that make you feel uncomfortable or anxious, among any other negative physical feeling and emotions should be avoided. We need to start listening to our instincts and inner voice of reason. It is okay to say no when our initial reaction to saying yes is negative.
“Live in the present, for it is the only moment you have. Keep your attention on what is here and now; look for fullness in every moment. Accept what comes to you totally and completely so that you can appreciate it, learn from it, and then let it go. The present is as it should be. It reflects infinite laws of Nature that have brought you this exact thought, this exact physical response. This moment is as it is because the universe is as it is. Don’t struggle against the infinite scheme of things; instead be at one with it.” Deepak Chopra
We are all guilty, whether constantly or sporadically, of dwelling on the past, thinking of the future, and going through the motions of the present without actually being present. Oftentimes, we aren’t even aware that we aren’t present. The act of being present takes practice, but we are all capable of mastering this mindful way of living. Deepak Chopra believes this is of the utmost importance in order to live a truly happy life.
The past happened and the future is going to happen; these are facts. It is waste of precious energy to try and return to the past or jump to the future, in our minds, when those two points of time were and are inevitable anyway. Our focal point should be in the now because it is actually the only point of time that is relevant. Giving yourself permission to ground yourself in the now is one of the greatest gifts that you can grant yourself. When we are here, we are actually living our lives to the fullest because it is all that it can and will ever be in that exact moment; missing that moment comes with consequences to our overall happiness.
Being completely present isn’t something that comes easily to most, especially when we feel that we always have to be five steps ahead. Who said though that we have to have everything figure out, planned out, and prepared for moments, days, or years before any of those events or happenings could even potentially take place? What if those anticipated things never even happen for any number of reasons? What if we spend all of our time preparing for a future that the universe maybe decided wasn’t meant to be?
Each moment of our lives should be cherished and lived because they are here and then gone in an instant. If we remain in the habit of staying in the past or skipping to the future, we are basically missing infinite moments of our lives. We must learn to let go of the control we think we have. When we are present, we are giving ourselves the optimal opportunity to experience our lives in real time, to connect and participate in our shared world, and find peace and happiness in the present.
If the present moment doesn’t suite you, just remind yourself that soon it will be just the past. Living in this organic rhythm is a beautiful feather light flowy way of life. The heaviness that comes with carrying the past and worrying about the future will dissipate when you learn to let go of all of that unnecessary weight. It is easier to smile, laugh, love, and flourish when we realize the present is all that really matters.