Guest guest Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 Why is my mind freaking out about this right now...it's as if I am taking it literally, like there is no future, which believing that of course would make one feel anxious Yet I can experience that every previous moment has passed Ugh, this is really bringing up a lot of fear > > > > Are you never not in it, outside of thinking about the past, or imagining a future, which are both experienced in the present moment? > > > > Confusing to my mind that thinks in time > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 Why is my mind freaking out about this right now...it's as if I am taking it literally, like there is no future, which believing that of course would make one feel anxious Yet I can experience that every previous moment has passed Ugh, this is really bringing up a lot of fear > > > > Are you never not in it, outside of thinking about the past, or imagining a future, which are both experienced in the present moment? > > > > Confusing to my mind that thinks in time > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 Can you identify what the fear is about, vc? Or is it just realizing / facing up to the impermanence of everything? Maybe the following will help (to interject a bit of humor): “There ain't no answer. There ain't going to be any answer. There never has been an answer. That's the answer.†- Gertrude Stein Helena From: "vcferrara" <vcferrara>To: "ACT for the Public" <ACT_for_the_Public >Sent: Thursday, July 7, 2011 12:54:37 PMSubject: Re: The present moment? Why is my mind freaking out about this right now...it's as if I am taking it literally, like there is no future, which believing that of course would make one feel anxiousYet I can experience that every previous moment has passedUgh, this is really bringing up a lot of fear > > > > Are you never not in it, outside of thinking about the past, or imagining a future, which are both experienced in the present moment? > > > > Confusing to my mind that thinks in time > >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 Can you identify what the fear is about, vc? Or is it just realizing / facing up to the impermanence of everything? Maybe the following will help (to interject a bit of humor): “There ain't no answer. There ain't going to be any answer. There never has been an answer. That's the answer.†- Gertrude Stein Helena From: "vcferrara" <vcferrara>To: "ACT for the Public" <ACT_for_the_Public >Sent: Thursday, July 7, 2011 12:54:37 PMSubject: Re: The present moment? Why is my mind freaking out about this right now...it's as if I am taking it literally, like there is no future, which believing that of course would make one feel anxiousYet I can experience that every previous moment has passedUgh, this is really bringing up a lot of fear > > > > Are you never not in it, outside of thinking about the past, or imagining a future, which are both experienced in the present moment? > > > > Confusing to my mind that thinks in time > >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 Thank you for the humor I think partly to do with acknowledging the lack of control we actually have Also, my mind, incessantly wanting to know how it all works...it's not something I can imagine obviously...but that's what my mind likes to do...to make it a mental object The mind thinks in time, yet we are in the now > > > > > > Are you never not in it, outside of thinking about the past, or imagining a future, which are both experienced in the present moment? > > > > > > Confusing to my mind that thinks in time > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 Im not totally sure Lack of control My problem solving mind incessantly wanting to know how it all works And then when it snowballs, it becomes survival mode, as I have such a habitual tendency to try to resist anxiety As if, if I let go resisting it, I would die or go crazy...which I know isn't true, but I think that's how I really felt when this all began years ago...understandable though considering I think all the stuff I suppressed for so long is coming up now that I faced my flying fear head on.. > > > > > > Are you never not in it, outside of thinking about the past, or imagining a future, which are both experienced in the present moment? > > > > > > Confusing to my mind that thinks in time > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2011 Report Share Posted July 7, 2011 Im not totally sure Lack of control My problem solving mind incessantly wanting to know how it all works And then when it snowballs, it becomes survival mode, as I have such a habitual tendency to try to resist anxiety As if, if I let go resisting it, I would die or go crazy...which I know isn't true, but I think that's how I really felt when this all began years ago...understandable though considering I think all the stuff I suppressed for so long is coming up now that I faced my flying fear head on.. > > > > > > Are you never not in it, outside of thinking about the past, or imagining a future, which are both experienced in the present moment? > > > > > > Confusing to my mind that thinks in time > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 8, 2011 Report Share Posted July 8, 2011 I think it might be more accurate to say that there is only one big NOW. It just seems as though there are "past nows" and "future nows". A mind-boggling concept to grasp, but no need to struggle with it - the bottom line is that all we have is the present moment in which to dance, act, exist. Pointing this out again and again reminds us that to obsess about the past or the future - and that is exactly what our minds want to do - doesn't move us in the direction of our values. Enter ACT. Your earlier point about the plane flight triggering all sorts of anxieties and mind stuff makes sense. This is an opportunity to learn and grow in your practice while sitting with the fear and letting it be there without resistance. Best, Helena To: "ACT for the Public" <ACT_for_the_Public >Sent: Thursday, July 7, 2011 3:57:50 PMSubject: Re: The present moment? Thank you for the humor :)I think partly to do with acknowledging the lack of control we actually haveAlso, my mind, incessantly wanting to know how it all works...it's not something I can imagine obviously...but that's what my mind likes to do...to make it a mental objectThe mind thinks in time, yet we are in the now > > > > > > Are you never not in it, outside of thinking about the past, or imagining a future, which are both experienced in the present moment? > > > > > > Confusing to my mind that thinks in time > > > > >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 8, 2011 Report Share Posted July 8, 2011 I think it might be more accurate to say that there is only one big NOW. It just seems as though there are "past nows" and "future nows". A mind-boggling concept to grasp, but no need to struggle with it - the bottom line is that all we have is the present moment in which to dance, act, exist. Pointing this out again and again reminds us that to obsess about the past or the future - and that is exactly what our minds want to do - doesn't move us in the direction of our values. Enter ACT. Your earlier point about the plane flight triggering all sorts of anxieties and mind stuff makes sense. This is an opportunity to learn and grow in your practice while sitting with the fear and letting it be there without resistance. Best, Helena To: "ACT for the Public" <ACT_for_the_Public >Sent: Thursday, July 7, 2011 3:57:50 PMSubject: Re: The present moment? Thank you for the humor :)I think partly to do with acknowledging the lack of control we actually haveAlso, my mind, incessantly wanting to know how it all works...it's not something I can imagine obviously...but that's what my mind likes to do...to make it a mental objectThe mind thinks in time, yet we are in the now > > > > > > Are you never not in it, outside of thinking about the past, or imagining a future, which are both experienced in the present moment? > > > > > > Confusing to my mind that thinks in time > > > > >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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