I’ve always thought that my being a doer and a planner was a good thing. I still feel that way, but I’m also beginning to see the importance of being able to just enjoy what I’m doing at the moment. Rather than planning things with my husband, I’m now trying to just hang out. I recently had a little girl, and I don’t want her to grow up feeling that life is all about doing things. I try to just sit with her and watch her; and just enjoy playing with her instead of always trying to work on something developmental. I know that if I want her to be able to live in the moment and enjoy now instead of constantly looking to what’s next, then I have to be able to do that myself.
Of the many strategies that I have employed to be more present in my daily life, none have made as significant an impact as yoga. Although I’m still just a beginner (I’m that person in the class that seems to have no idea what’s going on), I can already see that yoga is having an effect on me. First, I’m trying to be more in touch with my current emotions so that I’m not always running from them. The time at the beginning and end of each yoga class forces me to stop and check in with how I feel. I have found yoga to be particularly helpful because it’s almost impossible to stand on one foot or stay balanced in the various positions if you’re not present in what you’re doing. I’m forced to stay in the moment for the entire class if I’m going to be able to maintain the poses. Finally, when trying to make any change in your life it’s helpful to have people that will keep you accountable as you work toward your goal. Having an instructor and other people in the class helps me stay focused on what we’re doing.
In my work as a counselor, I’ve found that there’s one basic principle that’s repeatedly helpful for my clients, regardless of what’s brought them in to see me. The idea is that it’s easier to add a positive thing to your life than it is to stop doing something negative. If we keep adding positives, then eventually there won’t be enough room in our lives for some of the negative things that seem to plague us. Instead of trying to keep myself from planning or not thinking about the future, I’m trying to add yoga to my life. I hope that adding this positive will do more to help me learn to live in the moment.
