It’s Okay To Be Here Right Now, And Not There
Lately, it had been quite a stressful period for me. For one, it's the end of the year, and I can't help but to evaluate how well have I done in the past 12 months. Am I any nearer to my goals? Have I accomplished my resolutions? I bet that's what you would do too.
Me however, I have to deal with another issue. My birthday is coming up too... just one week prior to the new year, at the very happening day of Christmas Eve. Ya know, when end of the year comes, you usually look back at the past year and see how have you been doing. However, when your birthday comes, you look back at your entire life and see how far have you progressed. Then when you mix both together, and when there really isn't much to show, without proper outlet, the stress just kept piling up for me. Wasn't an easy period for me.
After about 3 weeks of depression (triggered by some customer complaint where I felt that I did my best), I really felt like I couldn't take it anymore. All the stress was just unimaginable. I saw no way out. Everything just seems to be against me. I was just lost. Very lost. I have this buddy who is also going through a similar phase and so we were like feeding off each other's negative energy, continuously delving deeper into a very negative state.
One day I realized, I can't do this anymore. This is bullshit. If I keep telling myself how bad things are, keep feeling sorry for myself, things are only going to get worse! I need to drag myself out of the negative state as soon as possible.
So I sat down quietly one afternoon, trying to do some inner work to cleanse all these negative energies roaming within me. And my inner guide told me...
It's okay. It's okay to be here right now. It's okay to be here right now and not there, there where you want to be. It's okay to not be at where you want to be right now and there is no need to feel unhappy about it. There is no need for resistance. There is no need of inacceptance. It is okay. Life is never harder than what you could handle.
It's okay to be feeling disappointed right now, to be feeling lost and stuck right now. It's okay. But stop holding so tightly onto your emotions. Right now, at this very second, there is no problem. It may be a problem tomorrow, or it may be a problem next week. But right now, at this very second, there is no problem.
Nothing you want is in the upstream. Stop fighting against the current. Just let go. The stream of life will carry you to wherever your desires are.
Accept the now, so you can work towards your future. When you deny your present moment, when you offer so much resistance against the now, you are not establishing your anchor point. You know where you are not right now, but where are you right now exactly anyway? How far exactly are you with where you want to be, do you know that?
By Law of Attraction, when you are feeling so stuck, so depressed, there is only one thing that could happen. That is you drift further and further away from where you want to be. Realistically speaking, that's also true. When you are depressed, much like how I was, you wouldn't be very motivated at all. More and more things are neglected and your life gets worse and worse. Depending on how far down before you could realize where you are heading, then maybe things would improve a little following your awakening. Some however, never make it to the awakening till their death. They ended their life right when it hits the rock bottom.
This is actually heavily influenced by the book, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. Surrendering to the now is very very important. Actually as soon as I started accepting that I do not have to push against the present moment too much, the stress slowly goes away. Nothing external has changed yes. But when you started embracing light instead of darkness, everything does not look that bad anymore. I have came a long way, and I have a lot to show if I want to. :) You have too! There is no need to be too difficult on ourselves. We are where we are and it is not going to change right now. But it can change the very next second. And then the next, and then the next. :) Just that it always starts with right now, with this very moment.
It was also helpful that the same night, I was able to adjust the way my buddy was thinking a little bit. It is good to break the cycle and stop feeding each other negative energies that keep putting down both of us.
In a way this article is about me and my recent experience. However, I am sharing this in the hope that maybe it will help somebody out there going through the same phase of feeling stuck and lost with their life. And when you too can start accepting the now and offer no resistance to it. Immediately, good things are lining up for you once again. :)
Or if you don't buy into the loa stuff, at least your mind would be less cluttered and more open to options when you are not depressed. So just stay strong!
It's okay!
December 22nd, 2009 - 04:54
It is very nice of u to be sharing ur experience. I also found the power of now book extremely empowering n I would love to write mote about it. However from my personal experience with people I hav discovered that many actually enjoy bein unhappy n r not detached from their mental state. Congrats on ur success in doin so n I hope others r more open to the possible enlightenment right in front of them =)
December 22nd, 2009 - 15:51
Personally I like A New Earth by him better. I don’t remember why because it was quite a while ago. But I think he was more personal in A New Earth so you get to read a bit more about himself somewhat. Definitely recommend that book as a follow-up reading after The Power of Now. I wish books in Malaysia are cheaper ahaha and I would read so much more.
Sometimes, we just forget to take control of ourselves, and got swallowed up. I suppose that’s why it’s called unconscious. You don’t really know what you are doing either when you are unconscious. I think most people fade in and out of consciousness most of the time. They would be aware of the circumstances for a while, and then forget the next.
For the same reason actually, I had ended up in this situation quite a few times past year. I slid into depression slowly and without realizing until it hits a point where I could not take it, and then I realized that I was the one giving myself hell, and started moving out of it. It would be good to stay conscious more often and be fully aware of everything that I am doing. :)
But I have been through this kind of situation on and off past year. Got into depression, hit rock bottom and started looking for way out. Still after a few times, I was still there in the same situation. Staying fully aware of everything around all the time isn’t really easy.
On other hand, I realize that whenever I stumbled upon a problem, I would actually go against the teachings in The Power of Now and ended up thinking excessively about things. And that often led me into depression.
December 24th, 2009 - 04:30
I understand what u mean, I hav been thru those phases as well n the important thing to remember is that a lot of problems vanish when u take control of it. The power of now magic runs out after a while, but the principle can always b applied.
PS: I m also looking to create a website like urself but never dedicated the time thus far. Keep up the writing n hope that more ppl r inspired by ur words!
December 24th, 2009 - 14:21
I thought you do have a website like this, ie your blog. Just that I think it’s quite private isn’t it?
December 24th, 2009 - 22:26
Wow, another round of applause for you…
You’re just so good with these… really don’t see it coming from you. But I guess you read alot, and I guess it really works aye?
Neways, its great to see how you can rise up to your challenges. I have a friend who recently posted up a status of a smiliar sentiment. I think it would he helpful… :)
December 25th, 2009 - 03:55
Wah your comments very motivating la. Keeps me going and going. :) Hope my article would be helpful to your friend. :)
I suspect that people who have a lot of questions to ask about life, generally reads more. :P
December 25th, 2009 - 17:07
I’m glad to hear that… :D Like you said, there’s really too much negativity around us. I, for one, is very guilty of that, but I find it easier to reflect positivity from others than within myself.
Sometimes, I hear peers whom I would lable as “successful” commenting negatively on their own “lack of achievements”, but who are they comparing with? While it is also not good to be too complacent with ourselves, everyone deserves a pat on the back every once in a while… sometimes, it’s just for something as simple as not having given up on life… :)
December 25th, 2009 - 22:16
Read the gist of it, and good on you!
I embrace the now, though I always think of the future, with all my plans that doesn’t seem to go anywhere then I freak out during my birthday. However, I like the new year much better, I feel more optimistic, it’s a fresh year to start with.
The key to everything is a good balance. So on one hand it’s good to evaluate the past and contemplate the future, but at the same time, grab the now by its balls and enjoy every bit of it! :)
All the best for the new year and happy belated birthday!