August, 2008
with John Kuypers

Nearly thirty years ago, I first experienced being fully present by learning a second language - French.  I moved to Quebec and I was a salesman.  I spent every day concentrating to listen and to speak.  My mind had no empty space with which to dwell on unrelated thoughts about my love life, my career aspirations, my financial worries or how I looked.  The impact of being that present on my confidence and on my performance was amazing - in every area of my life from work to sports to love life.

Yesterday, I experienced this again.  I went on a pilgrimage for one day with a group of fellow Christians.  We walked more than 20 kilometers.  Much of the time we prayed together using repetitive, memorized prayers.  Inevitably, all thoughts, worries and concerns were pushed out of my mind.  The result was a deep spiritual peace that comes when one is fully present.

I realized that afterwards that in spite of the many tools that I have learned over the years, none is better than simply pushing away all non-present moment thoughts.  However, the human mind doesn't like to operate in a vacuum.  We must fill our minds with something.  If we don't, thoughts will come anyway.  Inevitably, those thoughts will be past or future-based thoughts about people and situations that seem unfair, unjust and hurtful. These are rooted in judgments for or against us.

To feel the deep peace that comes from being present, we must choose our thoughts, letting some in and pushing others out.  Oddly enough, mindlessly repetitive activities does this very well.  Some of you have seen my "amazing phone book" video on YouTube, which reveals this contrived, yet effective method.  It requires you to learn how to overcome the agony of the "boredom" of mindless repetitiveness, in order to subdue your ego's insatiable appetite to be fed and entertained.   You must forget 'self'.

Today, I prefer prayer and thoughts focused on spiritual matters.  Thoughts about Jesus.  Not intellectual, analytical thoughts.  Rather praise and worship thoughts.   Prayer and gratitude thoughts.  It works.  His peace surpasses all knowing.   Everyday it's a new challenge. Every day it is a new reward.  Praise God!

pss.  Go to http://www.youtube.com/johngkuypers to view present living topics including health, marriage, workplace and the amazing phone book story on how to be present.

Please forward this Present Living Thought to friends and colleagues.  Present living feels too good to keep it a secret!
To subscribe: Hit your reply key and type SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
To unsubscribe:  Hit your reply key and type 'REMOVE' in the subject line.

This is a free service of Present Living & Learning, Inc.    http://www.presentliving.com    email: info@presentliving.com   Copyright 2008, All rights reserved.