Deal with what is present rather than what is absent
Live here in the juicy spot of life, right in the middle.
Live here and face the unknown without fear, both in life and after. The in-between middle state is where you can see a moment’s clarity and ignore the past or future.
When you deal with what is right before you, taking it all in, you act with what is present rather than absent. The real world is revealed by tasting, feeling, and seeing. You can be.
Deal with what is present rather than what is absent.
The Six-Line Prayer
SIX LINE PRAYER
- Be still and know that I am God.
- Be still and know that I am.
- Be still and know.
- Be still.
- Be.
The sixth line is the best; it reminds us to live here. In that reality, I understand that I am nothing, making me everything. I choose what the sixth line means to me. It is that still moment, live here.
You ->nothing therefore everything. It’s when I deal with what is present rather than absent.
Give in to Unpleasantness
While living here, don’t restrict awareness. Unpleasantness and suffering are part of life. Sometimes, we bring the suffering onto ourselves. Usually, we avoid feeling something. Stuffing those emotions down.
Instead, give in to unpleasantness. Deal with a shame storm. Feel inferior. Hate someone. Feel strong feelings because if you avoid the bad stuff, you will also dampen good feelings. But just because you decide to feel crappy about something for a minute doesn’t mean you have to live there. Live here.
Feel it fully, don’t judge, and forgive yourself if you do. The idea is to stop unnecessary thinking.
Hang in there and evolve. Numbing is common, but no way to live your life.
Equanimity is a good intention. Live in the middle.
When You Live in the Middle
When you live in the middle, you can go either way. Almost spontaneously. You can choose between being present and absent—no false bind of getting caught up or being free. The fact is that most of the time, we live somewhere in the middle.
When you live here, you live in a world where it is okay to hold paradoxical feelings. And, with growth, it is also normal not to feel anything. When you live in the middle, sometimes it is day-by-day.
Living in the middle is finding space to enjoy the moment. Find joy in the moment and your authentic self. When was the last time you sang out loud, danced, or laughed? Do all three of those this week.
What made you laugh out loud as a child? Or sing or dance? When you had less responsibility, what brought you joy?
Manifest that joy by doing it now. Live here.
Let go of the shoulds that are not yours
Let go of shoulds that are not yours. Find your authentic self and let go of other’s expectations. Let go of thoughts that aren’t yours.
When something in your head says something, stop and think for a second. This is the time for metacognition. Who is the voice that is speaking in your head? A parent or a loved one, or someone else who is in your life?
Don’t should on yourself and let go of other people’s expectations that cause your limiting beliefs.
Deal with what is present rather than what is absent. I can decide which thoughts are important to me, and those not mine I just let them go. Growth or fixed mindset.
Thoughts that are not yours are other people’s shoulds; let go of other people’s shoulds and live in the present.
Live Here
Who are you comparing yourself to? Seriously, you want to be like that? That will make you happy?
Self-image is a meme we tell ourselves. Graven images surround us. Omnipresent advertising sucking our creativity dry like a brain parasite let alone social media. Your self-image is a different story. You can choose to live here.
Live here. Deal with what is present rather than what is absent. Find that sixth line.
When you understand that you are responsible for your actions, feelings, and thoughts, no one else can tell your story. You can live here and decide what is present in your life and what is absent.
