The Fresh Start in Every Moment
I’ve always had a natural affinity with paradox – a statement or situation that seems contradictory because it includes two (or more) details or qualities that apparently contradict each other.
In fact it feels expansive for me to explore the space of truth that paradox points towards beyond the grasp of my rational mind.
The New Now
Last week I wrote about the alpha energy of the New Year being an excellent time for a fresh start with regard to exploring what priorities I feel most drawn to focus on next in all areas of my life.
And that certainly is the case.
My approach is to dive deeply into what really resonates for me in the “new Now” and then set some preliminary intentions and actions to guide my first steps.
So far, so good.
The Eternal Now
The paradox in this situation occurs because I know full well that the only moment which truly exists is the eternal Now.
So how can I (or you) plan for a future that doesn’t actually exist?!
The answer lies in realizing fully a truth that is one of my guiding lights for living consciously and creatively through all the different forms that takes.
The future arises from who you are and the actions you take in the present moment.
When you inhabit the Now completely, your perspective on the “future” arises from an expanded state of unlimited potential.
This sets you free to play with possibilities without any attachment to outcomes as long as you make it a priority to remain in a state of presence.
Then you can feel your way into what’s calling you right now and craft some preliminary plans in the knowledge that the details will unfold from who you are and the actions you take in each and every moment.
A Gap in the Past-Future Continuum
Spiritual teacher and bestselling author Eckhart Tolle puts it like this:
“Present-moment awareness creates a gap not only in the stream of mind but also in the past-future continuum.
Nothing truly new and creative can come into this world except through that gap, that clear space of infinite possibility.”
Creating the Best Conditions
Every moment contains the potential for a fresh start.
And when you combine that awareness with the collective energy focused on new beginnings at seasonal turning points, you create the best conditions for all that you’re here to be and do to manifest.
The Secret of Transformation
So mapping out your ideas for changes to be made in the “future” ideally needs to start by inhabiting the present moment fully.
As Buddhist monk, poet and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh confirms, “The present moment contains past and future. The secret of transformation lies in the way we handle this very moment.”
What are your thoughts and feelings about there being a fresh start in every moment? Please share your comments below. Thank you!
Julie, this is so well expressed and, having read The Power Of Now, i fully appreciate what you are saying about the “Gap” as a space in between that allows for new possibilities.
I am a writer, with one book published and one waiting to be written. In some way, I feel that I’m in some kind of gap. I’ve been taking a break from finishing the book and feel it’s time for me to get back to writing~~but I haven’t been able to get started. I’m trying to draw inspiration from your writing but seem blocked by wanting to finish other “stuff” first. Have you any thoughts to offer?
Hi Helen, thanks for your comment and for sharing where you’re at right now. With regard to you feeling blocked by wanting to finish other “stuff” before you start writing your new book, that sounds exactly like resistance to me. It’s certainly good to enjoy the break between major projects and recharge fully at every level including refilling your creative well.
However, it’s all too easy to let the other stuff take precedence for days, weeks, months and sometimes years! So the inspiration you’re drawing from my writing now needs to be combined with action. Wishing you joy and success with diving in to applying your inspiration to the page!
Thank you very Much, Julia, for this beautifully expressed blog. I am very conscious of the fact that now is the time to publish my book, and I am busily preparing all the elements in order to get it published. I could not have done that without your help and encouragement and all the support I have received from the members of your Conscious Writing Retreats, for which I am deeply grateful.
Thank you Daphne. Yes, I feel the time really is now for you to publish your book so I’m delighted to hear that you’re on track with making that a reality – good for you! I’m delighted to know that your experience of connecting with me and the others who have come to the Conscious Writing Retreats have supported you to reach this point. We’re all holding the space now for you to reach completion and looking forward to reading your book when it’s done 🙂
Same here Daphne! Thank you and Julia and all of our soul group from the conscious writing Retreat who have held the space for us to tap into the creative consciousness, become aligned and find what we are truly meant to write!
That’s good to hear Susan! I love the fact that such deep and supportive bonds have been formed at the Conscious Writing Retreats and we’re looking forward to the publication of your book that was birthed at the first one you attended 🙂
Julia, I just read today’s blog and discovered that you had responded to me. Thank you. I do hope to watch you on the 25th. I’m not sure I understand what time you will be showing in my time zone (Central Standard time) but I’ll figure it out and hopefully join you. Thanks for your input.
You’re most welcome Helen. As for the time difference, I believe that CST is 6 hours behind UK time which would make it 1.30pm your time and you can double-check using a time converter such as this one, click here.
Happy New Year Julia! I think that one of our greatest challenges as humans IS to inhabit the present moment~~to recognize the “Gap”~~to live consciously enough to realize that we do indeed create our own future. I am renewing my effort to do just that. I would like to use this reminder you so graciously share with us as an opportunity to also renew my efforts to move beyond the resistance(re: my writing) referred to in the January, 2018 response you gave to me which, surprisingly, appears above. Maybe the Universe knew I still needed that reminder.
Thank you Helen, and to you! I’m so glad you’ve found useful reminders in here… the Universe usually delivers them up when we’re ready to move forwards whether that be a single step or a quantum leap!