"Attention! Here and Now! Attention! Here and Now!"

One of my favourite books at school was Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. Not only is it beautifully written it also contains powerful political, economic and social messages that are as important today as when it was originally written.

In his later years, Huxley wrote a book called Island. This was written at a time when Huxley was further into his spiritual quest.

It tells the story of a man shipwrecked on an island, inhabited by a strange race of people, with very different social & spiritual norms than from where he had come from.

The parrots on this island all squawked the words, "Attention! Here and Now! Wake Up! Attention! Hear and Now! Wake Up!" As the man walked around the island he would hear the birds repeatedly calling these words.

The man asked the islanders why these birds called these words. The islanders had explained that they had taught the birds specifically to say these words.

"Attention to what?", the man asked.

"To paying attention", the islanders replied.

For me, today and recently, this has been the most useful, empowering, calming and joyous affirmation for me to repeat throughout my day.

Having just read 'The Power of Now', by Eckhart Tolle, this affirmation keeps me centred on the present. It helps me keep my mind from straying into the past and the future.

When we focus on the past we often attach meaning to events - that was good, that was bad, that worked, that didn't work.... Similarly when we think of the future we can attach meaning, for example fears or worries about what might happen, or anticipatory happiness at what pleasant possibilities exist.

For me often the past is 'negative' and the future always 'positive'. I often forget about the present!

When I am (in the) present, I am true to myself and values. Decisions are easier to make. I am necessarily at peace as in the present moment there is no good or bad, there just is. Tolle talks of is-ism. I love that. Having is-ism.

With our ego, or mind, there are the polarities of good and bad. If you have good thoughts, there is necessarily bad thoughts. For example, "I am looking forward to my day off tomorrow when I am going to the beach". This thought will make me feel good. However it may very promptly be followed by, "I hope that it doesn't rain and ruin my day off at the beach." This thought will make me feel bad.

If you 'listen' to your incessant mind chatter you will notice a few things. Firstly it is rarely focussed on what is actually going on in the 'here and now'. Secondly, you will oscillate between what happened in the past, or what you are hoping or fearing may happen in the future.

A good illustration of how our mind works is in the story of the old man who had a fine, but rather wild thoroughbred horse. One day, the horse broke out of the paddock and ran away. The old man' neighbour came over and, when he found out about the horse escaping, said, "That's too bad ! Bad luck!" But the old man said, "Maybe, maybe not." The next day, the horse came back, bringing with it three fine wild horses. "How wonderful!" exclaimed the neighbour. But the old man just smiled and said, "Maybe, maybe not." The old man had a son, and the son went riding on one of the wild horses, but it was so wild that it kicked him and broke his leg. The old man's neighbour found out and, again, said, "That's too bad ! Bad luck." But the old man said, "Maybe, maybe not." Soon, the army came knocking on the old man's door, looking for conscripts for the war. Because the old man's son was injured, they didn't take him. "How wonderful!" said the neighbour, but the old man said ...... you start to get the picture!

As I stopped attaching meaning to events in my past and future, it became so much easier to enjoy the present. To notice the sunset as I sat in the bad traffic. To let go of the upset I had at a friend misunderstanding me. To laugh at myself when I was wishing hopefully for an event to happen in the future to make me happy.

"Attention! Here and Now! Wake up!". I love it.

So tomorrow, try it out. Next time you feel yourself getting upset, depressed, angry, frustrated, call out "Attention! Here and Now! Wake up!". Ask yourself if in the present moment there is any need to be upset, depressed, angry or frustrated. Take a deep breath. Feel everything there is to be felt right at that moment (your legs against the chair, the air conditioner blowing on your face), hear what there is to be heard (your breathing, the computer whirring), smell what there is to be smelt, see what there is to be seen (others in the room, colours on the wall). You will be surprised at the peace that descends.

It is a peace that emanates from your heart. It encompasses all the space around you and between you. It may only last a moment.

Try it too when you feel yourself getting excited or happy about something. See that it is a polarity. Attaching too much meaning to something external risks the downside if things do not work out as planned. Practice watching your mind at work, tricking your emotions into following an unnecessary roller coaster.

I hope that as I practice this ("Attention! Here and Now! Wake up!") I can more naturally keep the heart-peace I have found.

Namaste
Jane