Monday, July 2, 2012

In the Middle

I recently read this talk by Uchtdorf and I thought it was amazing timing for me.

I had just had a conversation a couple weeks ago with my sister about our minds being present, and therefore wise.  She said a counselor told her that we live in different minds at different times.  There's our emotional mind (when we ride a roller coaster or are in some way emotionally involved), and our logical mind (when we are balancing our checkbook or in some way concentrated on logic).  Then there is our wise mind.  This is when we are using both our emotional mind and our logical mind.  It was sorta hard for me to think of an example.  She asked me when there is a time that I am both emotional and logical and I finally thought of when I go to play the piano.  I am logically thinking about how to play, but also emotionally involved in the music and just letting go.  It's a relief.  I go there to enter my wise mind.  I go there to be present and let go of everything else.

She told me we can be there all the time.  All we have to do is focus on the now.  Any moment.  Driving in the car, instead of worrying about the future, or regretting the past, think about now.  Focus on the temperature at the moment, how your body feels, what the steering wheel feels like in your hands, and then you are in the moment.  Or in the middle of a crazy day with the kids, start thinking about the moment.  This is the stage my kids are in right now.  This is what they are learning right now.  Suddenly I feel more grateful for my life.  Suddenly I am entering the eternal perspective and forgetting the things that are not as important.  I'm also forgetting to worry about things beyond my control.  It forces me to be more connected with things in my control and let go of things that the Lord will take care of for me.

Be present.

As Uchtdorf quotes in his talk, "Forever--- is composed of Nows." Emily Dickenson