Be present...but how?

This is Eckhart Tolle's major teaching. It's all about staying in the present and developing awareness. Yes, that's great. This world, however, is not the best place to do so. We are always in a rush while we are bombed by the media/social media and the expectations of society. Living life without stress is almost impossible. But just almost. Being and staying in the present can be learned. It won't be easy though. You need to practice every day until it rewrites the script your subconscious mind wrote when you were 5 years old. That's when your mind is like a sponge. Whatever you see and learn from parents, caregivers, and peers will be stored in your subconscious mind. Furthermore, it will become something like an automatic computer program. It can be useful...that's why you will never forget how to ride a bike. But if those thought patterns make you your own enemy, that's not so good. Actually, not so good is an understatement.

So how do you even become present let alone remain in that state? Meditation helps. A lot. If you tried and struggled with focusing on your breath, you're not alone (raises my hand). If you get anxious because you can't seem to stop thinking, you're not alone. I have to note here that you cannot stop your thoughts. The goal of meditation is not to empty your mind. That's a misconception. The goal is to observe and then let them go. Look at them through your mind's eye without judging, and then bring your focus back to your breathing. Or something else. If you're like me and you find it hard to do so, there are other options, such as focusing on a body part, a sound, or a picture/dot on the wall. Believe it or not, you can meditate with your eyes open. You can even meditate while eating by savoring each bite. All of those methods will keep you in the present.

Another type of meditation that I absolutely love is guided imagery. That has a different function. That is not really about the present, it's about experiencing something that may give you emotional/mental relief or spiritual insights. It all depends on what type you pick. One of my favorite channels on YouTube is The Honest Guys. They have hundreds of guided meditations. Guess what? There is one in which you run with wolves. It's very powerful and amazing.

Remember, stress is probably what triggers lupus the most. I highly recommend meditation as a tool to live in the present moment. There is nothing else. Neither futurizing, nor getting lost in the past will set you free from worries, regrets, and overthinking.