Why is this Present Moment so Important?

By Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D.
May 23, 2009

The morning wind spreads its fresh smell.
We must get up and take that in,
that wind that lets us live.
Breathe, before it’s gone.

Rumi

Allow this to be just a simple poem by 13^th century Sufi Poet Rumi to bring awareness back to the understanding that in life we often get kicked on auto-pilot and tune out things that may be supportive to our mental health. We can take this poem at its word and notice that so often we are in such a rush in the morning, even on beautiful mornings, that we don’t take a moment to take in its fresh smell (unless you’re living in an industrial city, but don’t worry there are other fresh smells there). Even though many of us ignore the fact, this breath that we breathe is temporary and for us as individuals, one day we will cease to take these breaths. So what would it be like to pay attention to it from time to time as if it really mattered?

Instead of rushing around in the morning with tense muscles, a racing mind on what needs to be done that day, and potential feelings of stress and anxiousness, bring yourself back to right now and be here for a moment. This can set precedence for the rest of the day.

Now, this is not to say wake up every morning, stick your nose out the window and all will be well. This is really just to say, can we become aware when we’re getting perpetually drawn into auto-pilot and question what may be in the moment that we’re missing. There may be many pleasant things that we don’t notice because we’re so focused on where we need to be or where we wish we weren’t. For example, the warmth of the sunshine on the face, your child’s smile, the tastiness of breakfast, a warm shower, or even a sense of quiet. Awareness of these moments can support you during more difficult moments during the day.

Life is fragile and relatively short at the end of the day. What would you do if this moment or this day really mattered? How would you live it differently? As Stephen Levine says, “Who would you call and why are you waiting?”

Take today as the day to spread a bit more presence in your daily life. To support this I have created a twitter feed to send little mindful morsels a few times throughout the day to pop you into a state of mindfulness. If you are interested in this go to http://twitter.com/Mindful_Living.

How else do you add a bit more mindfulness to your day? What do you do? Share below your thoughts or stories. Your additions here provide a living wisdom for us all to benefit from.

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist and conducts a private practice in West Los Angeles. He is co-author of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook (New Harbinger, February 2010) Check out Dr. Goldstein's acclaimed CD's on Mindful Solutions for Stress, Anxiety and Depression, Addiction and Relapse Prevention, and Success and Stress Reduction at Work -- "They are so relevant, I have marked them as one of my favorites on a handout I give to all new clients" ~ Psychiatrist. He also current has a FREE Mindful Companion EBook: Top Mindfulness Quotes and How They Can Support Your Mental Health. If you're wanting an interactive program to find relief from anxiety and stress, check out Dr. Goldstein's progressive online behavioral change program in Aliveworld. If you're wanting to integrate more mindfulness into your daily life, sign up for his Mindful Living Twitter Feed. Dr. Goldstein is also available for private psychotherapy.

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2 Comments to
“Why is this Present Moment so Important?”

Muhammad Rashid at 12:50 pm on May 27th, 2009

To take cognizance of whereabouts and sensory perception mindfully is all that I myself religiously practice to bring liveliness in my daily life. This gives me the strength to nurture humanliness and hope to live full.

Charles Upton at 9:42 am on May 28th, 2009

Sufi-Dari Books

(An imprint of Sophia Perennis)

Announces the Publication of

The Quatrains of Rumi

(Beginning of Marketing Campaign: May 20, 2009):

Rubâ‘iyât-é

Jalâluddîn Muhammad Balkhî-Rumî

ISBN 978-1-59731-450-3; $25.95, £19.50

Translated by

Ibrâhîm W. Gamard

and

A. G. Rawân Farhâdî

COMPLETE TRANSLATION WITH PERSIAN TEXT,

ISLAMIC MYSTICAL COMMENTARY,

MANUAL OF TERMS, AND CONCORDANCE

The first complete English translation of the Quatrains — over 700 pages — based on the Persian of the original, complete, and uncorrupt Forûzânfar edition –

translated with close attention to Rumi’s idiomatic usage,

with the collaboration of scholar from Afghanistan,

whose native Persian remains close to Rumi’s own

The “version-makers” of the poetry of Jalâluddîn Rumî have helped to make him perhaps today’s most popular poet in the English language.

But they have not served his intended meaning with equal zeal,

often portraying him as a “universal” mystic who had somehow “transcended” Islam, even though his celebrated Mathnavi has been called “the Qur’an in the Persian tongue.” Ibrâhîm W. Gamard

and A. G. Rawân Farhâdi have labored to set the record straight,

and to demonstrate that Mawlana’s universality is inseparable

from his Islam — from the depth of his Islam.

For more information, contact Sufi-Dari Books/ Sophia Perennis at:

jameswetmore@mac.com

or info@sophiaperennis.com