Tag: Letting Go

Live in the Moment

When folks remind us to live in the moment, they’re actually offering up sound advice. Yes, we hear it a lot, and it’s tempting to blow it off as just another platitude. But here’s why it is sound advice: When we focus on what is happening right now, we are not worrying about the future or the past.

Those of us who suffer from anxiety or depression (or both) are often ruminating about some past detail or obsessing over an unknown future event. We are either living in the past or living in the future. We are, however, not present in the here and now. So we’re not living our life!

When we take time to meditate or practice yoga, we’re training our minds to focus on what’s happening now. Focusing on yoga poses, or on our breath, forces us to let go of the past and not worry about tomorrow. Additionally, if we focus on a task we are doing more intently, such as walking to the car or folding the laundry, we are training our mind to focus on what is going on in the moment. This is otherwise known as mindfulness.

So as we attend to our tasks more mindfully and practice grounding through meditation or yoga, we stop thinking about the past and the future and our minds calm down. Space opens up enabling us to concentrate on tasks more, relax a bit, and appreciate the little things that we often take for granted while we obsess about the past or the future.

Here’s to living in the now.

Photo by Prasanth Inturi from Pexels

Disclaimer: All articles written on Microyogi are opinions and not meant to serve as any kind of instruction for how to move your body. I am merely writing as a means of trying to find my own answers. I am not a medical expert.

On letting go…

Those crossroads moments. Do we keep moving in the same direction? Or veer off into unchartered territory? Maybe we are at the end of our travels with someone/a job/an unrealistic goal. Staying the course may seem easier now but we know what to expect and it ain’t so pretty – but it’s the devil we know. We have invested time into this thing/this person. The road less travelled may bring adventure, a better life, joy, true love, or it could be terrible, we may be alone, it may be dark, it may be dangerous. How do you truly know when it’s time to let go?

Sometimes it’s plain easy to know; sometimes it isn’t. Ending relationships is one of the hardest things to do. Something doesn’t feel right, you are always moody. But you figure you’ve always been moody. You wonder about that other road a lot. You try not to. You really do love this other person. You’ve been through a lot; they are pretty much your best friend. Yet something is missing. You don’t quite click fully. You feel alone with your thoughts a lot. Communication could be better. People change.

Ending jobs/careers is hard too. I mean you have them to earn a living. What would you do without that regular sources or income or benefits? You have bills! Plus, you may hate it, but you’re good at it and the pay is reasonable. Seeking new opportunities after a certain point seems insurmountable. You can’t go back to an entry level position when you have a mortgage or car payments. Right?

You may have these thoughts for days, weeks, or even years. However you were never ready to let go. But one day you are. You are so ready. In the case of a relationship this is difficult. You have to tell the other person. They will be hurt; you will hurt at the things they may say to you. Or don’t say. You may need to move. This seems enormous. Where? How? There will be many overwhelming decisions to make and tasks to complete. Along the way you may wonder if what you are doing is what you really want? Somehow you need to remain grounded. Read, talk to trusted friends, eat properly, give yourself a break, and love.

Using Meditation to let go.

Meditation has been used for centuries as a means for clearing the mind – letting go of thoughts.

Sit quietly for 5 minutes and let go of the thoughts. Observing the thoughts as they come and go but don’t get involved with them. This takes practice. For some people this may be frustrating. Focus on your breath. Breath deeply and slowly. Some like to repeat a mantra as something to focus on:

For example:

Everything will be OK

or

Where I am right now is exactly where I need to be

Some like to listen to a guided meditation. There are many available online.

Letting go is never easy but a rite of passage in life. We need to let go of that which does not serve us any longer to make room for that which will serve us and serve us well.