Jamie Smart’s NLP Tip 55

Time for This Moment, 19 April 2004

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This Week’s Tip

Hello everyone, & welcome to the 695 new subscribers who have joined us this week (to see previous tips, go to The NLP Tip Archive.) 

A couple of years ago, I bought a book called The Power of Now by a guy called Eckhart Tolle.  Ever since, I occasionally think “Gee, I really should read that book” then decide that I’ll wait until later (yes, I am fully aware of the irony in this J)  Nevertheless, I am already sold on the power of the present moment, for a number of reasons:

First reason - Only the present moment exists.

I think this is by far the most compelling reason to put your attention on the present moment.  Yesterday doesn’t exist, except as a memory, with all the unreliability we know to be true of memories; when you experienced yesterday, it was n-o-w.  Tomorrow doesn’t exist either, except as an imaginary construct; when you experience tomorrow, it will be n-o-w.  And as it’s all that exists, it’s a good idea to experience it, so…

1)      Sit with your feet flat on the floor, in a comfortable, aligned position (spine straight, hands on your thighs or at your sides, breathing comfortably.)  With your eyes open or closed, allow yourself to become aware of the different sounds, sights, smells & sensations around you. This is the present moment.

This is the present moment, & there are a number of good reasons for keeping your awareness in the present as much as possible (in addition to the first reason.)

Second Reason - There’s a whole lot more of it in store for you.

If you stop for a moment, you will realise that all the experiences of your life will take place in a present moment.  The more comfortable you are with the present moment, the more comfortable you’ll be with those future presents.

Third Reason - The present is where you are.

If in doubt, look at your hands.  Your hands only exist in the present moment.  Because it’s where your hands (& the rest of your body) are located, so…

Fourth Reason - The present is the only time you can take action. 

You can wish you took action yesterday, but yesterday no longer exists, so it will remain a wish.  You can plan to take action in the future, but when you take the action, it will be in the present moment.  The only time you can take action is in this hot second.

Fifth Reason - Wherever you’re headed, you presumably want to enjoy it when you get there.  Get in the habit of enjoying the present now & you’ll be even better at enjoying then when you get there.

2)      Gently place the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth just behind your front teeth (continue to breathe easily.)  Imagine you are holding a tiny droplet of oil between the tip of your tongue & the roof of your mouth.

I originally got this idea from Eric Robbie & modified it slightly, & it’s a great way of turning off your internal dialogue.  Turning off your internal dialogue is an excellent way of allowing yourself to focus on the present.  This is particularly important if you want to be able to pick up the clues that people give you about how they’re thinking (being able to go quiet inside is a key skill for NLP Practitioners – for more info, see Tip #8 - How to Go Quiet Inside )

"The only way to live is to accept each moment as an unrepeatable miracle, which is exactly what it is - a miracle and unrepeatable."

-- Margaret Storm Jameson

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Summary

This week, we’ve been getting into the present moment:

1)      Sit with your feet flat on the floor, in a comfortable, aligned position (spine straight, hands on your thighs or at your sides, breathing comfortably.)  With your eyes open or closed, allow yourself to become aware of the different sounds, sights, smells & sensations around you. This is the present moment.

 2)     Gently place the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth just behind your front teeth (continue to breathe easily.)  Imagine you are holding a tiny droplet of oil between the tip of your tongue & the roof of your mouth.

3)      Before starting an important task, take a moment to centre yourself & relax.  Then, get clear about what you want to accomplish, then begin.  

Have a great week & I’ll speak to you again soon. J 

best wishes,

jamie

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