Be. Here. Now. It's a mantra that has always intrigued me. To my mind it has always meant leaving the past behind. Dealing only with what's here right now and not allowing any baggage from the past to affect the choices you make now, the actions you take being totally independent.
But can you be SO present in this current moment that you absolutely have no investment in what happens after it?
I was, at one point a student in a school to learn how to be a professional Massage Therapist. I loved that school, and I did go on to have a brief career as a therapist, but that's beyond the scope of this discussion. Along the way, they take time out from teaching you physical techniques, and work on your mental/emotional processes and how they affect what you, as a therapist, are able to do. Over and over and over… "Be Present in THIS moment… have no investment in what happens afterwards." They would hammer the point home "Do what you do and then let go! Let it take it's own path after you let go of it!"
Being present in the moment, but not invested in the outcome. How do you do that? Especially if you're providing a service of some kind, and you're investing your will and intention into the process. People are paying you for the outcome of your service. The results ARE the reason they're there! How do you then let go and divest yourself from the outcome?
I saw a clip online this week of Johnny Depp being interviewed on David Letterman's show. They stumbled across the fact that Johnny doesn't watch his movies. They laughed a little… okay, they laughed a lot… cuz it seems so weird that a movie star wouldn't watch the movies he's made. Depp talked about how he loves the process of making the movies, and the interaction between everybody involved, but that when his job was done, the ultimate outcome was really none of his business.
As much as I don't want it to… that totally resonates with me! There's something in that notion of "I do what I'm here to do, and when I'm done, I'm done. What happens after I'm done isn't any of my business or even my concern. "
This whole thing is about searching for that one moment, and you can choose any moment you want, to be completely absorbed in the NOW of it all. Enveloped in the sights and sounds and textures and tastes, the thoughts feelings and emotions of this one, singular moment, without allowing any thoughts or worries from the past, or concerns or predictions of the future to invade your awareness in any way. Can you do it? I'll be working towards such a moment for myself and I'm interested to hear about yours. Please leave me a comment about your experience with it.
Until next time, be well…
-------chris
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Good thoughts. I've often managed my life this way. In sales and in my business revenue, we plan and set goals that outline desire outcomes (results). Without the proper planning and goal setting, you will become either directionless or possibly underachieve your potential. But I don't manage the outcomes (at least directly). I manage the process. I make sure I do all I can that is within my reach of control, and I try to ply my craft to the farthest reaches of my potential. Usually, when I come-up for breadth to see the results, they are pretty good -- but not always.
ReplyDeleteI've found that this is a personal thing and not a reliable universal template. I know people that are fully invested in the desired outcomes and that is what motivates them and what becomes their compass.
I think I fall somewhere in between. I need to invest in the outcome by determining what a successful venture will look like. But I then focus on the moment while reaching towards my goal (if that makes any sense!)