TRULY living in ‘The Now’ is a most wondrous and rewarding way to live life.
It might sound strange to speak the obvious to people, but the only time you can truly live is Now. Have you ever managed to live five minutes ago or in five minutes time?
It is impossible, for the only time we can experience now is Now. That being said 90% of people spend most of their lives not living in the Now – worrying about things of the past or anxious about what might happen in the future.
The breath is an obvious porthole (passageway) into the Now but so are our senses i.e. what we see, hear, taste, touch and smell. When we pay real attention to these five senses it helps to develop what is known as the 6th sense; Our intuition or gut/survival instinct.
This attitude to living can really enhance the quality of our lives and removes so much unnecessary suffering. Many people will say it is difficult to do but I don’t agree. With a little daily practice, the desired result can be achieved in a relatively short space of time. Moreover the practice of coming to our senses can be a very pleasant experience.
Sight: Look at a beautiful mountain view. Realise that you can only see it exactly as it is just now as, perhaps when you look at it in five minutes time, the sun may have disappeared behind the clouds – it is an ever changing vista.
Really appreciate that you have the gift of sight and what it means to you and also to close your eyes and consider the less fortunate who are without this precious gift. Admire them for the way in which they face daily struggles with such bravery.
Hearing: Listen to the sound of the birds chirping in the morning. Pay attention to different array of sounds emanating from each species.
Listen to the joyous sound of children laughing and be grateful to have such a wondrous gift. Take a walk on one of our glorious local beaches and listen to sound of the waves as they finally reach the shore. Think of the difficulties faced by people who do not have the gift of hearing and who will go through life never hearing those sounds.
Taste: Think of your favourite food and what joy it brings as you truly savour the flavour in your mouth. Eat slowly and really appreciate the moment chewing the food and allow your taste buds to do the work that they were created for. Appreciate the hands that made the food and that the food came from an ethically sound production line.
Touch: Hug a friend or a family member. Take time and feel the warmth and genuineness of the embrace and realise that you can only truly appreciate that feeling right now.
Think of the children and people who might have to go through the whole of their lives without feeling loved. We truly are emotional human beings and we need the connection which touch can bring to our lives for our survival.
Smell: Go into the woods and appreciate the various aromas that are readily available. Take time to smell a wild flower or a rose and realise how empty and dull your life would be without this sense. I recently spent some time in Ballyseedy woods and the scent of the wild garlic was overwhelming.
The best things in life are free but do we take the time to appreciate them.
Next week I will write about the power of gratitude.
• Roger Harty is a life coach and can be contacted on 087-6128336, on twitter at @Innerjoyz1 or by email rogharty@gmail.com
