BE HERE…….OR BE THERE.

There are so many distractions today, that I’m amazed that anyone can feel planted in the present moment. And these distractions have crept up on us slowly, like a bad mold in the basement of our houses. But it is important to acknowledge just how many more things are competing for our attention now, than even five years ago. And if the comparison is made to our life situation ten years ago, the increase in distractions is staggering.

So what’s the solution for a conscious person faced with such an increase in stimulation, most of it unnatural and electronic?

1. Focus on the good stuff. It’s sour grapes and so negative to talk about the “good old days.” Avoid that trap. Life ten years ago was not better or worse than now, and it held its own challenges. There are some amazingly good things to enjoy now that never existed ten years ago, like streaming music from every artist in the world (except Led Zeppelin and the Beatles haha) to your car, home, or phone.

2. Renew you’re appreciation of nature. This is so obvious, but so important too: you need something real to balance out all the screen time exposure . Too many people are losing their connection to real nature, and their own souls. Don’t let that happen to you. Make some real effort to experience pure, unadulterated nature on a regular basis. Your soul will thank you.

3. Try a night out without your smart phone. Yes I actually said that. Get to your destination the old fashioned way, by using directions and common sense. Make plans with your friends before going out, and stick to those plans, even if something better comes up….haha.

4. Acknowledge other people’s humanity in public. When in public places, such as an elevator in a building, take your face out of your phone and actually look at the other people around you. You may be surprised to find out that they are breathing too, just like you!

5. Read, or re-read “The Power of Now,” by Eckhart Tolle. This is the seminal book on the power of present moment living.

6. And most of all, enjoy the present moment to the maximum.