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An irresistible urge to clean out a closet came up the other day. I attacked it with gusto and deposited in a cardboard box shoes I\u2019ll never wear again, clothes that don\u2019t fit, worn out bags, random books, and a lamp I hate.<\/p>\n
After finishing, I realized I had been looking for something. Not that elusive black shoe to match the one in the box. Something more important. I was looking for my point of power. The place of stillness. The present moment.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve often been stymied by resistance, which is a great catch-all for negative ideas and beliefs\u2014the programming that lives in what some call the subconscious mind. It\u2019s taken years to understand that what stops me from 1) starting and\u00a0 2) finishing projects is hiding inside me.<\/p>\n
Every spiritual teacher I\u2019ve encountered, in person or books, emphasized the importance of the Now. In the sixties and seventies, as meditation and eastern philosophies integrated into western culture, it became an often-spoofed catch word. Be Here Now! Allen Watts exhorted us.<\/p>\n
The truth is, he was right.<\/p>\n
The only way to create anything new is from the present. If we try to create from old patterns and memories, we end up re-creating old situations, even if dressed up in new clothes.<\/p>\n
If you prefer dwelling on the past, you may identify yourself with childhood experiences, past wounds, slights, or resentments. Hold beliefs about how limited you are, how it\u2019s too late (or too early) for what you want. Think you need more security, money, or free time before you create. You tell stories of what happened. <\/em><\/p>\n If you\u2019re oriented to the future, you\u2019re always planning. You have goals, vision, motivational tools, a to-do list. You\u2019re so focused on what you will <\/em>do that you don\u2019t notice what is<\/em> happening now. You tell stories of how great things will be.<\/em><\/p>\n If we don\u2019t question where our ideas come from and if they are still true<\/em>, we risk repeating patterns we don\u2019t understand. A stuck pattern is a lens of perception.<\/p>\n If you feel at the mercy of time, other people, or your responsibilities, and can\u2019t seem to start that novel, exercise program, or job hunt, maybe it\u2019s time to look inside. The inner way is not often valued by the outer world, but it\u2019s essential if you want to know yourself.<\/p>\n Here are some simple ways to start:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nState a clear intention.<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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