JOURNEY TO WHOLENESS
 

The Moment Is Now

By Jude LaClaire, Ph.D.
 

All of life is in this moment and exists within you. Philosophers, people facing near death, scientists and many spiritual traditions speak of the eternity of life and how it is connected to this moment. The author Herman Hesse said,

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      “…you will find all you need,

     Sun, stars and moon,

     For the light for which you search

     Dwells with you.”

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Eckhart Tolle in The Power of Now says, “…enlightenment…is simply your natural state of oneness with Being.” He continues, “There’s the past in you. If you can be present enough to watch all those things, not critically or analytically but nonjudgmentally, then you are dealing with the past and dissolving it through the power of your presence.”

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Modern physics also sheds light on the idea that everything is interconnected. We now know about the role of biochemical messengers that orchestrate conscious and unconscious activities in one moment.

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Within the last few years, three well-known neuroscientists, experienced brain injury, and reported their profound change of consciousness. Ernest Rossi, Ph.D., the author of one of my favorite books, The Psychobiology of Mind-Body Healing, suffered a stroke several years ago. He relates his experience of being in the moment, experiencing intense emotions and a timeless sense of the moment. You can read more of his experience and work at his website.

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Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D. describes her experience in My Stroke of Insight as alternating between the euphoria of the intuitive and kinesthetic right brain, in which she felt a sense of complete well-being and peace, and the logical, sequential left brain, which enabled her to get help.

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In Proof of Heaven, Eben Alexander, MD, a neurosurgeon, details his seven-day coma. He experienced a realm of being in which he felt loved unconditionally, was safe and was aware of the simultaneity of all time and the interconnectedness with other beings.

We can find this kind of moment by focusing on deep breathing, changing the brain wave pattern and other body –mind rhythms. Guided imagery, dreamwork, meditation, chanting, music and different forms of bodywork like yoga, tai chi or physical exercise can all aid in helping us connect with the part of the brain that is a pathway to the ‘oneness’ experience.

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I often use guided imagery and dreamwork to assist people as they release trauma and pain. I also teach the Neurobehavioral Programs to give people a tool for reducing stress, negative emotions and pain. Some practitioners use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing), helping people to reduce stress as they release trauma. There are many approaches that can help you to connect with this timeless part of you.

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Review the diaphragmatic breathing process. Take the deep breaths until you feel more calm, peaceful and present. This is always the quickest way to self-calm and begin to be in the moment. At this time, more than ever, it is important to avoid getting overwhelmed by the continuing COVID-19 restrictions and concerns, to recover from the fatigue of the political process, and the demands of your life in this moment! I am finding, as I am sure you are, that the current challenges demand extra diligence. Ask for support, and give it to others!

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You can always ask yourself, “What importance will this have in five years? In ten years? At the end of my life? This helps to put things in better perspective.

As you begin to feel more present, connect your energy with protective forces in the Universe, whether currently living or in other forms, including divine, human, animal or natural elements. In this now moment, everything and everyone, eternally, is energetically present.

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In this state of consciousness, you are at peace, able to forgive, release trauma, find more of your resources and solve problems without stress and anxiety. You will feel the great abundance of life available to you. I have learned and use a variety of tools to help me in this process. Find what works best for you. Learn it well, practice it and find your ‘eternal moment.’