Happy...Here....Now

Good morning,

First, take a moment to enjoy this beautiful blue sky. I took this pic on my last trip to Mexico. Oh...so sweet!

Yesterday & today my thoughts have been coming back to santosha, one of the niyamas. Typically you will find this translated to mean 'contentment'.

But what does it truly mean to be content? It sounds rather easy...but really, how often do you find yourself at a place of of contentment in your body, in your life, in your own mind? How often can you find your thoughts NOT racing to the next thing, or not worried about the future?

Seems in meditation this week a sense of peaceful contentment has been my experience. And realizing that peace makes me so much more aware of how other parts of my day are, well....to be completely honest, not so full of contentment.

Many of us can find ourselves at times looking to the past, looking to the future, spending lots of energy trying to makes sure we get what we think we want, looking to improve our 'now' experience. But really, in truth, doesn't all this serve to take us further away from the present?

If you are honest and ask yourself when thoughts come up for you, you may find that lots of your anxiety and frustration comes from the past or the future. If you really examine these thoughts, you might discover, like I do, that in the present most of the time the past and my experiences in the past are not really there for me in that moment. It's the thoughts about the past that are! And if I find myself dwelling on the future, I remember to remember that I've tried to make the future one way...and how did it turn out? The way it was going to anyway...with or without my effort. The control we have when it comes to our future experience is really limited. (Although our thinking minds would like to say WE have control!)


How much time are you really present in your life?



And if you aren't in the present living your life, who is??



All we really have control over are our thoughts and our reactions to them.


Become your own detective!!

In class I'll say "breathe" or "be aware of your breath". Truly these are hints to help bring folks back the present. And even on my own mat in my practice, I continue with these helpful hints to myself. And I think the more you examine your life, the more you can be your own guide to the gift that is the present.

So, if you're up for it...take some time to consider this post. Ask yourself and honestly see the answer to the question "How often are you truly present?" and see what you see. Don't ask yourself questions you think you already know the answer to. Be present.

Who knows, maybe you get a different experience today if you are open to the possibility.

May you find contentment and acceptance in every breath, with each moment, and with yourself.

Love & light,
Marianne