You Are Here - Thich Nhat Hanh
You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh is an incredible read. It helped me repair the wounds from my past and find harmony in the present moment. I started to realize that when I worry about my future or my past I’m running away from myself. I was trying to avoid how I felt at that exact moment. Sometimes I have a habit of running away because I’m intimidated by doing the inside work.
I just felt like doing the inside work meant that all of my pain and suffering that has been accumulated will be standing right there in front of me with it’s hand on hip, tapping its foot, ready to confront my ass. I ain’t want no parts of that. So I kept myself distracted. That’s why it’s so easy to just get on social media, or youtube, or watch some TV. They’re all distractions. Leaving our true selves in disorder and pain.
“We have to come back to our territory so we can bring order and harmony to it. We must be responsible kings and queens. You are responsible for your terrority, your Kingdom.”
The inside work is necessary and we have the power to focus on it. The wave is already water just like what I’m looking for is already in me. You Start Here by Thich Nhat Hanh has truly challenged me to do the work from the inside out. To be more forgiving to my past self, to live with more intention with my present self, and to be more compassionate to my future self.
Because I used really to think when I move I’ll be happier. When I get this new job I’ll be happier. When I start making money doing what I love I’ll be happier. But this is prisoner thinking. Because happiness is right now. It’s not the end all, be all destination. It’s the journey. This helped me become more understanding to myself and to everyone else in my life. I’m learning how to listen to others properly. I feel myself getting less aggravated with myself, with my family, with my friends, with my man, with my coworkers. You start to feel lighter.
Sometimes, I gotta catch myself in the middle of unmindful speech because I know that my words can create happiness or it can create suffering. But this read has helped me speak words that only inspire hope and joy and self confidence.
“When you speak with 100% of your being, your speech becomes mantra.”
I had to deadass transform my thoughts to change my words in order to feel more liberated, more accountable, more free. And I must say it is so rewarding. Living is a joy and starting over is a wonderful thing. I really used to think like naaa, starting over means moving backwards but it’s really means creating a new opportunity for yourself.
All I’m saying is being more mindful is the key to creating a harmonious life. Living with intent is living for fulfillment. And Thich Nhat Hanh helped me do exactly that.
One particular poem I read to myself daily:
In; out.
Deep; slow.
Calm; ease.
Smile; release.
Constantly reciting: Breathing out, I know that I am breathing out has helped dramatically with my anxiety and anger. Bringing me back to my current moment to help me investigate how I reallyyy feel about some shit. Like, did it really hurt my feelings? Or did I create this idea in my head and it hurt my ego’s feelings?
And I personally don’t like to speak about death but this one quote had me like wow. He said, “A person who does not know how to die does not know how to live. Don’t wait to start living. Live now! Your life should be real in this very moment.”
Practice being more present in the present. Learn how to recognize what’s happening in the present moment without judgment or criticism, without suppression, without attachment.
What type of things you do to stay in the present moment? Comment below!