Living Powerfully in the Present Moment By
Charlene Proctor
The time we spend on earth is very short when you consider the scope of the
universe. Often, we don’t see the big picture and get lost in the details. What
is our purpose in the few years we have? It is to become a living embodiment of
spirit while we are here. We must learn to express spirit through our actions,
emotions, relationships, and in the work we do, which can be anything from
loving our children to being a bank teller. We’re supposed to nurture each
other, love the planet that provides us sustenance, evolve our soul in the
process, then go home, perhaps to try another version at some later date.
There’s no singular instruction manual for this type of big picture thinking –
to a large degree, we make it up as we go along. Remember, being born is like
standing at the end of a big river and jumping into an already moving stream of
people and events, all colored by the past – the past others have left behind,
but mostly the past we create during our stay. The past is important because we
learn from it. It helps us navigate through our current choices in order to
evolve our soul. We’re in soul school the minute we hit the ground until we
cross over, coursework made possible by the enriching, and sometime challenging
conditions we have chosen. We chart a learning program well before we get here,
a structure that includes our parents, our gender, and circumstances that will
provide us with the greatest opportunity for personal and spiritual growth,
resulting in true-self-empowerment.
Where we get into trouble is giving up our freedom to make new choices within
that structure based upon the present, especially when we replay old, outdated
messages given to us by others that solidify our belief system about who we are.
Negative programming results, or the way we automatically approach present day
circumstances, with a “can’t do” attitude. Negative programs limit our vision,
preventing us from feeling empowered about what we can accomplish in life. Such
negative thought patterns from the past deplete our energy reserves –
diminishing our ability to make a difference in the lives of others today. Have
any of these ideas become part of your present experiences?
You can’t do that, girls just don’t do that?
You have to make me happy, I sacrificed everything for you?
This family comes first, not you?
You don’t deserve to be loved?
I’m poor but good?
The world is a terrible place?
You’ll fail/get hurt/be taken advantage of so don’t try?
I don’t have to apologize because I’m the parent?
You make enough mistakes and you’ll learn how hard life is?
I believe we set a mental agenda everyday, and what we see in our world, and our
personal lives, is a result of what we think. If you aren’t getting what you
want out of life, then you must create a mental discipline that replaces a
negative belief system with one of hope, appreciation of the past, and a
decisive statement of what you see happening in the present. The present is what
matters.?
Changing a mental outlook takes discipline. In our culture we are taught to plan
for disaster, be prepared, and anticipate what might be coming around the bend.
It involves releasing outdated ideas and replacing them with ideas of what you
want in the present moment, and accept it as already happening. ?
How many of you have heard “life is hard, a daily struggle, life is tough.” How
about “if you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything?” I am of the
opinion that if you don’t have excellent health, yes, things might be fairly
bleak, but there still is an awful lot of life to be had. Life, in terms of our
exchange with others, has many meanings but often we’ve got the definition
backwards. Life isn’t all about taking it in. It’s mostly about what you give
out. ?
Write a daily affirmation that encourages you to look inward and unseat old
messages. Ask yourself, “What blocks my ability to overcome and mend? Am I
fearful of life? Do I always put my needs last because I feel unworthy?” Change
your mental outlook into a new assumption for today by saying:?
Each day is an opportunity to give more to humanity ?
This unlimited universe gives me room to grown in unlimited ways?
By being who I am, I give to the world with excitement and love?
I become stronger because of the challenges I have faced?
I am worthy because I am my Divine Self?
I no longer need to hold myself back from success and prosperity?
My life is a unique expression of creation?
I love the journey I’m on. I construct my puzzle at my own pace
Remember, everyday is new, no matter how you slice it. The sun comes up in spite
of our mistakes or the despair we must face. We are meant to continually move
forward! Getting stuck in the past holds us behind, a prisoner within an
incredible universe of opportunity. True empowerment stems from living now, not
as a reaction to now from the past, or living with worry about what might happen
tomorrow, next month, or next year. Everyday, no matter what has happened to you
in the past, is a new opportunity to begin painting your life on a fresh, new
canvas. Paint with powerful, present moment strokes. A mental outlook centered
in “now” allows you to realize more self-power and confidence you’ll need to
ride the bumps in life. You can do it!
Charlene M. Proctor, Ph.D., author of Let Your Goddess Grow! 7 Spiritual Lessons
on Female Power and Positive Thinking and The Women’s Book of Empowerment: 323
Affirmations that Change Everyday Problems into Moments of Potential (2005)
provides guidance through everyday complexity with female imagery and positive
thinking. Focusing on the Divine Self, and setting a mental equivalent to
institute positive change on earth, has always provided the infrastructure to
Charlene’s work as a researcher and simulation architect. She is deeply
committed to helping others along their soul journey. Please visit
http://www.thegoddessnetwork.net and register for her many self-help and
inspirational programs, which include The Divine Woman, a free monthly
newsletter!
