“All you really need to do is accept this moment fully. You are then at ease in the here and now and at ease with yourself.”
– Eckhart Tolle
Practicing the Power of Now
For many years I sought coaching for myself and coached my clients around being less self-conscious. This felt important because we don’t serve our clients well when we feel concerned about saying or doing the right thing. We don’t do our best work when we are thinking about what others are doing and if we measure up.
I became practiced at willfully putting my attention on my clients, on my work, instead of on myself. So did many of my clients. That shift did help us do better work. And, it was missing something.
Willing something into place doesn’t allow much ease.
So now, instead of willing things into place, I am softening to whatever the moment holds. If I notice my internal self-talk is self-conscious, I acknowledge it without trying to will it into being different.
Whenever I need help softening, I connect with this pure
love kitty, Jasmine, who is never far from me!
It is miraculous what 30 or 60 seconds of softly and lovingly accepting what is naturally shifts me into being at ease with myself. I then am able to be fully present to whatever is and to do amazing work in the moment.
I’m beginning to think awareness is a very powerful, natural shifter!
Well, that’s a match—I have me curious too! I’m pretty sure I experienced that just last night…oh, wait…maybe already this morning.
OK, not so much curious as becoming aware that my self-consciousness is pretty consistent.
Ken, you have me curious about how often our internal self-talk stops us from connecting, relaxing, enjoying without us being consciously aware.
Wow! You’ve said a lot with very few words! Your excellent point reminds me of the old “work hard or work smart” idea. Being at ease with myself…hmmm…I could use more of that for sure! Just yesterday a friend shared something and I didn’t respond with validation because of some made-up idea that I wouldn’t look good.