Be Here Now = Be Happy Now

It's so simple. Right here...right now...this moment is our life, as so beautifully put by Omar Khayyam:

"Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life."

~ Omar Khayyam (1048 – 1131)

Khayyam was a Persian philosopher, mathematician, poet, musician, polymath, astronomer, physician and a bit of an overachiever if you ask me. (Just kidding.) Though Omar was definitely what I would call a multi-passionate creative! 

We all have memories of the past and dreams for the future...but it's only in the present moment that we truly live our life. 

So why does it often seem so difficult to "Be Here Now" as the western-born yogi Ram Dass was advised by his guru Bhagavan Das. (I googled it.)

Do you ever find the "if only" mantra playing in your mind? It sounds a little something like this:

If only my space was completely uncluttered and organized then I could finally make art...write my book...crafting...learn to play the banjo...take up tap-dancing...plant a garden.

If only I had more time then I could finally make art...write my book...crafting...learn to play the banjo...take up tap-dancing...plant a garden.

If only I was younger then I could finally make art...write my book...crafting...learn to play the banjo...take up tap-dancing...plant a garden.

Notice, the dreams remain the same...only the excuses differ. And I've got a million of 'em – don't you? A million dreams and a million excuses. 

But luckily, I also have the wonderful tools and techniques of Kaizen-Muse Creative Coaching to help me move gently past my million excuses as well as common creative blocks like procrastination, perfectionism, lack of time, overwhelm and get stuff done! 

Today my energy is zapped and truthfully I don't feel so hot. I'm shaking off the tail end of a head cold. Given how I'm feeling it would have been easy to go straight into "if only" mode...

If only I felt better I could write my Mid-Week Oasis Moment.

But by using a few of my favorite Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching methods and allowing myself to accept and embrace the moment for what it is, I'm in a pretty good place. In fact, I'm even creating this post! Here's how...

Small Questions

By asking myself questions such as: "What's one thing I am grateful for today?" and "How would it be if I'm be gentle with myself while I"m not feeling so hot?" I opened the door to practice permission and compassion. 

Permission/Self-Compassion 

By giving myself permission to be gentle with myself (which means rather than force myself to get up, get dressed and go work at my desk I get to remain huddled in bed wearing two sweatshirts with a cup of hot tea) I'm happily creating today's Mid-Week Oasis Moment in this moment. 

In the next moment I may be napping...and that's okay too. (self-compassion)

Small Steps/Timer

Since my energy is much lower than usual, using small steps is the perfect, low-pressure way to make it through my day. I'm setting a timer and working for 15 minutes or so then giving myself a break to close my eyes or make another cup of tea or read my Joni Mitchell book. 

I hope that you feel fantastic and healthy today, but the next time you're feeling under-the-weather or overwhelmed, I invite you to try using these simple (but so powerful!) methods to move past "if only" and into the now because for most of us, the now is a pretty wonderful place to be. 

All the best from my "Be Here Now" Creative Oasis to yours,

Jill

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