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WISDOM OF THE WEEK

If not now, then never

Published:Sunday | July 14, 2024 | 12:08 AM

We all understand the three aspects of time: present, past, and future. Despite this, time exists only in the present in the real world. No matter how hard you try, you can never have more than one moment at a time. Once a moment has passed, it is gone forever, it can’t return. All we have is this very moment, yet we mostly live either in the past or future, resulting in worry or anxiety.

ILLUSION OF TOMORROW

We often postpone things for tomorrow. Somewhere, we know that tomorrow never comes. We spend our lives earning things that don’t matter at the end. At the cost of our lives, we accumulate mundane things. Anything that isn’t done today won’t magically happen tomorrow. The next moment is built on the foundation of this moment. If I’m not happy now, my next moment is less likely to be joyful. If I’m lazy today, I can’t be magically active tomorrow. Every transformation has to begin today.

BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF

We never postpone getting angry, do we? We do it in the moment, spontaneously! Why do we postpone when it comes to meditating or having quiet time?

Learn to be honest with yourself and admit that you don’t want to do something that you’re able to. Let it be your choice. Never play a ‘victim game’ with yourself. Don’t say, “I don’t have time now, but I want to do it.” Anything we can postpone is something we don’t truly want to do. Have the courage to be honest with yourself. This honesty will hit your conscience and will bring the right result. But we deceive ourselves by saying we want to do but don’t have the time now.

NOW OR NEVER

The most important person in our lives is ourselves. At the end of life, we shouldn’t feel we wish we had taken out more time for ourselves. It is time to realise that if we don’t see the value of the present and live for ourselves now, we will be left only with regret. The power to transform our lives lies in the present, but we often take this time for granted.

The awareness of what truly matters helps us to live a more meaningful and purposeful life, appreciating the beauty and wonder of each moment. So let us not wait for a future that may never come. Instead, live joyfully and fulfilled in the now, knowing that it is where our true power and presence lie. By embracing the present as a present, we unlock the potential for transformation and inner peace, allowing ourselves to live our lives to the fullest. Make ‘Now or Never’ your life’s mantra.

Courtesy: Rajyoga Meditation Center, Kingston (meditation courses and counselling are offered free of charge). Email: kingston@jm.brahmakumaris.org. Or follow them on Instagram: rajyoga_meditation_jamaica.