Be Here Now: the importance of being present in the moment

Within Buddhism, there is a concept of living fully within the moment. This is not to suggest that we live as if the past meant nothing and there is no tomorrow, rather that we should be fully present within the moment. There is wisdom in this applicable to anyone, regardless of their religious inclination, as well as benefits.

It has been called, in recent times, Mindfulness and Active Meditation, but the basis of this thousands of years old idea remains the same -pay attention. Whatever it is you're doing, regardless of how mundane or trivial, actually participate. Don't run on autopilot! Be consciously aware of what's going on, exactly what you are doing. Take in every detail.

When preparing your meal, be there fully in that moment. Feel the different textures of the ingredients, the smells, the varying colors. Feel the energies that are still present within the vegetables, energies that you will take within you as you eat your meal. As you eat, make note of this fact. How does your food taste? How does it make you feel? Cleaning up afterwards, be present in every step you take. Feel your foot lift, the various muscles in your legs contracting and loosening, your foot lowering and connecting with the ground. 

This simple practice turns every act into a sacred act, strengthening our awareness to our connection with It All. It allows for Spirit to become more active in our lives, allowing for greater instances of synchronicity and, certainly, allowing us to create greater and more effective changes within our own lives. Of course, other benefits are there as well, such as decreased amounts of stress and an overall feeling of balance, harmony, and internal stability.