Problems

 

“So -called problems cannot survive in the present moment.” ~ Eckhart Tolle

To me this quote from Eckhart Tolle means that problems really can’t live in our present moments because problems usually occur when we live in the past or future and are simply not being present. If we look back, we can probably find something to make into a problem and bring it into the present moment by thinking about it, but it shouldn’t be in our present moment because it was already there once and now it belongs in the past where it should be forgotten.

If we look into the future we could create something to worry about by dragging it into the present, but why do we want to do that when we really have no idea what the future holds for us until it arrives and becomes the present. Fear sometimes brings us to the future.

So, what we actually have is only what’s happening right now and soon that now will also be in the past, and only starts to be a problem when we keep bringing it up over and over again. As crazy as this all sounds, our problems can’t survive in our present moments if we are truly present because we would solve an issue before it becomes a problem or discard it. There is not enough fuel to actually be living in the moment and keep a so-called problem alive. It’s only when we go looking for trouble by looking backward or forward and over thinking that we give negative energy to our present moment by creating problems that grow into monsters filling our brains with misery and giving us sleepless nights of trying to figure things out— what went wrong, or what might go wrong. And don’t forget, when we do this stuff we are no longer in the present moment.

If we could figure all this out for once and for all, think about all the happiness and great relationships we would have. We could experience real forgiveness and love, and we wouldn’t make ourselves and everyone else so unhappy. Life would become richer and peaceful for all.

Okay, this all sounds great, but since this is not a fairytale story where we will all just start this right now and life will suddenly change for the better, let’s call this a work in progress and strive to live in the present and keep the past and future out of our lives the best we can. In doing this, maybe the world can become a better place because we’ve become better people.

Home

You can always go home. Whatever troubles and pain took you away you can always come back and smooth them away.

“Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do … but how much love we put in that action.” ~ Mother Teresa

 

 

Who Would Miss You?

Sometimes I bet you wonder if anyone would care if you were alive or dead. Death can feel like the great escape from all your troubles, but do you really know where you would be escaping to, or if your troubles would just follow along? And even if this escaping place had great weather and was absolutely beautiful, I bet there would still be hassles just like here on Planet Earth–especially if YOU ARE part of the problems. Nope, you can’t escape from yourself that’s for sure.

But, if you did die who would miss you? Oh, you say probably no one? What about your mom or dad and those awesome siblings? Well, maybe they’re long gone, or don’t even care. Did I hear you say that partners don’t count either, and that friends are few and far between? I don’t dare ask about your dog or cat, or even your cute little guppy fish. But I’m sure the checker at the grocery store would miss your warm smile, and your co-workers would miss that infectious laugh of yours. I can tell that you don’t want to count any of these either.

I guess when you add all this up it totals to a big fat zero on who would miss you. If this is what you truly believe then you would be WRONG, my friend. How’s that, you ask? You forgot to add in the one person who would miss you, and that person is YOU! Maybe you don’t know this, but you are the person who really counts. It doesn’t matter if you’re alone in this world because living is not about how many people love you, or how many friends you have. That’s all great stuff and makes living fun, but it’s just the icing on the cake. All this crazy living is about your journey through this life and the places you go, and the things you do.

If you decide that you want to end it all today, you will be missing you and this exciting journey that you are on. Dark days come and go, and maybe today is a very dark day, but stick around, tomorrow will be better. You don’t want to miss your life because you are here for a purpose and you owe it to yourself to find out what that purpose is all about.

Learn to love yourself, and find the joy deep inside because you are worth it. Enjoy the ride of your life, and don’t mind the bumps in the road they just make it all that much more interesting.