Okay, I need to tell you the Yoga Pants Story.
Because this week I keep finding myself spinning out into FUTURE ANXIETIES.
What if…? What will we do when…? What about…? I could come up with these all day.
But if I’m in my head anxious about the FUTURE, I’m not RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. I’m worrying over what MIGHT happen instead of being present for what IS happening.
Let’s be together in THIS moment instead, okay?
(What does this have to do with YOGA PANTS?? Watch the video.)
What to Do When You’re Worried About What MIGHT Happen
How to Be Present In This Moment
Here’s one trick that helps me when I’m worrying about what might happen in the future or rehearsing what already happened in the past.
Notice something in your present, right here and now.
This could be something you can see (a plant? a cup of tea? a person?) or something you can feel (your breath? your heartbeat?) or something you can focus on (the light outside? the sunset?).Keep your attention on that thing for the space of three breaths.
Just three breaths.
Even if you’re super busy, you can spare three breaths’ worth of time.
Let your awareness of that thing bring you back to the present moment.Do it again as often as you need to.
The Big Deal About Being Present
This moment right here is the only one where we can connect with each other. It’s the only one that’s actually happening.
The others—moments from the past or moments from the future, imaginary moments, moments when we’re lost in what-if and what-could-be—all of those are happening in our heads, not in the world.
This moment is the only one where we can be together.
It’s the only one where we can notice what IS instead of what MIGHT BE. Getting lost thinking about WHAT MIGHT BE feels safe, because it feels like if we just worry and plan enough, we can control that potential future.
But we aren’t in control, not really. I know it can be uncomfortable, but I keep finding over and over again that when we focus on being in charge of our lives in the present instead of trying to control the future, that’s where we start to feel grounded and calm.
That’s where the good stuff is. It’s in being present to the present, with or without yoga pants. (Really, watch the video.)