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Katrina, the lovely young woman doing the ultrasound, commented at one stage that it didn't matter what was said to me, I always found something laugh about. I know this about me. I don't worry until I know I have something to worry about. It all started when I was twelve. My mother died. Easily the worst day of my life. So long ago. Very soon after this life changing event I found a book that belonged to my older brother about zen buddism. The page that got my attention, and the only one I remember was the 'here and now' page. Just those words, printed in different directions, sizes, types, all over a double page. I can't say that I remember exactly how it affected me at the time. I can say that I was fascinated and kept going back to that page. My understanding of here and now increased quickly as I got a little older and it became a concept that was essential to my survival.
Basically, for those not familiar, the here and now becomes an oasis you can rest in to recover from the things in the past or the future that cause unrest and and therefore use up your energies. Most of the thing that cause unrest are short term events. Mostly (obviously not always) the here and now is ok. Like now: sitting in front of the computer, reading and writing, the weather is pleasant (probably hot later, but that isn't here and now) my partner is in the other room playing guitar and singing. I have no pain. Yes I won't be prodding the bruise on my breast, that would be purposely bringing unrest into the here and now! All is well and remarkably comfortable in the here and now.
As an exercise, until you get use to the concept, you sit quietly and calmly, think briefly, as an acknowledgment, of the place you have just come from and then bring your self to this place. Think briefly of the place you will be going to, note that you aren't there yet, and then bring your self to this place. Think briefly of the things concerning you from your past, acknowledge you can't time travel to change things (ok, I have a huge overabundance of humour) and bring yourself to your present. Acknowledge that you have worries about the future, but that you will reach them in the future and bring yourself to your present. Acknowledge, but leave in the past and future, the places you have come from the places you are going to, every thing else and examine and focus on your here and now.
This can take some practice. We all know how easy it is for worries and anticipations to intrude. Try looking at your surrounds, examining and describing to your self what you see. What are the colours and shapes, are you inside, outside, are there plants, artwork, are you comfortable. Look at something, look away and describe it. With practice you can eventually click into the here and now. The main huge benefit for me is that worrying use up my energy and leave me exhausted. If worry can be avoided until a situation is actually in the here and now you actually have more energy and a clearer mind for dealing with the situation. Decisions are clearer, actions more constructive. For those who worry about not attending to the things that need to be attended to just use lists!
I'm not buddhist btw. But they understand a lot about the human condition.
