The Now (Part 2 of 3): Is Your 'Presence' Absent?

Author Eckhart Tolle in his book, "The Power of Now", describes Presence as living fully in the moment, in the Now, without thoughts or feelings of past or future. Guy Finley, best selling author of "The Secret of Letting Go", says, "Being conscious of ourselves in the Present Moment is the key to all things good, not just for the better choices we can make for ourselves (because we can see more possibilities) - but because the more awake we are in the Now, the less likely we are to allow ourselves to be negatively compromised by our own past."

From my own experience, it is a profound state of being. Why? Because it prevents the past and the future from distracting our thoughts. In the incredible Present Moment, we have a clarity that defies description. It is rare for most people to discover the immense power of the experience, and believe me, it can be difficult to hold on to!

Dance

Magical things happen when you are Present. Your chattering mind is not regurgitating the past, nor is it fussing about a conjured up future.

The Now (Part 2 of 3): Is Your 'Presence' Absent?

Have you ever been suddenly struck by the beauty of a sunset, or the dancing sparkles of ice crystals in the sunshine, and just for that moment all thinking seemed to stop - ever so briefly? At that time, in that moment you were Present. Neither the past nor the future held your attention. There was simply a feeling of awe and appreciation.

Imagine being able to revisit that sensation at will. No thoughts of blame or guilt or anger (which are of the Past). No thoughts of doubt, worry or anxiety (which are of the Future). No stress, for it too is an illusion belonging in the future. Feeling stress may seem to be caused by what is going on now, but in fact the stressful situation has already been set up - in the past - and what presents itself is the delusion we create in our minds about the 'how' we'll deal with it. When we think of anything that we are going to have to deal with - that's future.

Only in the Now do we have control. We can choose our destiny in the Present Moment. What thoughts are we allowing in this moment? How are those thoughts affecting our physical body? When you pay attention to these things moment to moment, your Now is the chance you have to make change. Eckhart Tolle places strong emphasis on being deeply within the body to find Presence. Pay close attention to the feelings held in the body. Pay close attention to the inner promptings from inside yourself.

OK, so what do you do with that information? And how does it help you make a happier, more fulfilling life for yourself? Use the Present Moment to accept things as they are, including yourself. This is a surrender that what is simply IS. When you are in acceptance, you have stopped resistance. Resistance holds you back. Resistance limits you.

As soon as you accept all things the way they are, you take off limiting shackles and are much more creative in your thinking. You are able to take responsibility for your own life situation without guilt or blame. Once you are cleared of those hideous emotions, you can focus on the desires you hold most dear.

Having desires for a better future is not at odds with being fully Present in the Now. The Now is your gift from God, or the Universe, or All That Is, to lovingly plan, gratefully receive and fearlessly take action. Fear is based in the future. It is a delusion of what might happen. It has no life in the Present except that which you give it.

Faith is made of the same stuff as fear. It is yet another delusion about something happening in the future. Yet, Faith creates an entirely different physiological response in the body. Monitor your thoughts and your bodily reactions in the Now and you have your clue as to what your plans and actions should be.

The ego-mind wants to be right. It wants to defend itself, to blame and hold grudges. The ego-mind wants bigger, better, and more than others have. It wants control. It compares and judges to prove its worth. It will not willingly oblige when you flick the off-switch.

By this time, you can understand why it is so difficult to remain Present. The mind is constantly cluttering up the Now with thoughts of past and future. Use the Present Moment to focus on the needs of the present only, and you will glimpse the contentment and sense of peace that comes with feeling your Being and Awake to the possibilities for your life.

What you do and what you think in every Now is the destiny you are creating for yourself. The inherent beauty in each Moment is that you have the power to choose the wonders of your next Moment. Living in the Now is where happiness is born.

Copyright © 2007. Sylvia MacKenzie. All Rights Reserved.

The Now (Part 2 of 3): Is Your 'Presence' Absent?

Sylvia MacKenzie, formerly a Management Consultant specializing in marketing and promotional campaigns and investor relations campaigns, now finds deep satisfaction and fulfillment in her career as Personal Life Coach. Drawing upon more than 25 years of experience at teaching communications skills, coaching and mentoring youth and adults, she is currently developing personal growth resources and focuses on individual life transitions.

You can learn more about Sylvia at this link: [http://www.powerlife-solutions.com/about.html] This new and improved website is packed with Introductory offers not to be missed! Be sure to go to: [http://www.powerlife-solutions.com/newsletters.html] Excellent resources and tools for self-improvement, including how to put low self-worth behind you FOREVER!

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What is the Limbo Dance?

Limbo is a traditional dance that actually originated on the island of Trinidad, in the Caribbean. However, it is often associated with the island of Hawaii, where the limbo dance is very popular. The name "limbo" is from the Trinidad English dialect, and comes from the word limber. It is also known as the "under stick dance," particularly in Trinidad and Tobago. Although the dance was not well-known outside the Caribbean until the mid-twentieth century, it actually dates to the early or mid nineteenth century.

Although most people associate the limbo dance with leaning backwards to walk under a horizontal stick, in fact there is much more to the limbo dance. The dance is set to a tropical Caribbean rhythm, and includes many movements seen in other traditional dances originating in the same area of the world. Limbo music has a strong beat and depends largely on percussion instruments. As part of the dance, the dancer then leans backward to dance under the pole in the manner recognizable worldwide as "limbo."

Dance

The limbo dance includes a group of dancers. When the dancer dances under the pole and emerges successfully on the other side, the dancer is still in the group. If the dancer touches the pole or falls backwards to the floor, the dancer is "out", and the rest of the dancers continue without them. As the dancers continue, the pole is typically lowered until only one dancer can make it under the stick without touching it or falling. There are many different stances and techniques used by limbo dancers to help them achieve the lowest limbo possible.

What is the Limbo Dance?

The movements of the limbo dance are said to represent the cycle of life. This idea stems from traditional West African beliefs, like many customs found in Trinidad. As the dancers move under the pole and emerge at the other side, their head clearing the pole represents the triumph of life over death. Another belief for the history of the dance's movements maintains that the dance portrays the people of Trinidad being taken down into the hold of a slave ship. Unlike today's limbo dances usually seen in a festive and carefree atmosphere, the limbo dance was also traditionally used as a funeral dance. In this setting, it is related to African dances called legba or legua.

This traditional dance gained widespread popularity in the 1950s and 1960s as knowledge of the dance spread from the islands worldwide. In Jamaica, limbo music was considered trendy in the 1950s, and many songs based on a limbo beat were recorded, including many not intended to be used for limbo dancing.

Occasionally, performances are held in which the limbo stick is on fire. "Fire limbo" performances were very popular in the 1960s, although they have been prohibited in many locations due to safety concerns. In any case, attempting the fire limbo should only be done by professional limbo dancers.

Today, limbo contests are popular for kids' hula dances and other all-ages parties, particularly those with a tropical or Hawaiian theme. They can also be found in games for tourists at tropical resorts, where they serve as an "icebreaker" and the winner typically receives a prize.

What is the Limbo Dance?

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