Practicing Staying Present to the Now

Transformational Counseling is about assisting others to transform their life. Transformational Counseling is a process of assisting others to learn how to let go of the past and live fully in the present. To live fully in the present is to become awaken to what is truly real and to our own natural power. Much of our life is spent living in the past, and in the process, attempting to fix it, to make it something that it is or was not. It is from living in the past that we also attempt to create our future, the result always being a living of life as it was in the past. Transformation takes place when we learn to exist in and be present to the Now.

The practice of staying present to our natural power and to that which is real is becoming conscious to what is so, to the Now, to the present. What is so, the Now, has no meaning and exists outside of thought and language. As human beings we tend to give meaning to everything, including other people, ourselves and even life itself. It is in our meaning making that we leave the present and create our life from the past, a life that can be filled with a great deal of anxiety, fear and stress. What is so merely exists and it is in the experience of the Now that we begin to live a life of power and freedom, a life and way of being free from our past.

A specific technique that is very powerful for practicing staying present to the Now is meditation. It is in meditation that one creates the space to experience a very deep state of relaxation, a state that is very healing to both the mind and body. As we know, in meditation ones metabolism slows down, including heart rate and blood pressure. The consistent practice of meditation will reduce anxiety and stress. For some the practice of meditation allows them to access true Being. For others it is way of reconnecting to the Spirit within us. It is in the consistent practice of meditation that the subject and object distinction inherent in language, thought and meaning making collapses thereby resulting in our access to the present, to the Now.

The meditative process can be enhanced by the use of therapeutic relaxation music. Music has always been a very powerful modality for promoting a very deep state of relaxation and even healings. I have found that musical compositions that are harmonically slow, repetitious, with sustained voices, which are rhythmically, random in tempo assists an individual in experiencing a very deep state of relaxation. A second important component of the use of therapeutic relaxation music is the use of binaural audio tones that have been interwoven into the music. The binaural tones, through a process referred to as entrainment or frequency following, gently guides or directs the mind/body to generate more of the targeted frequency of brain wave activity for an even more profound state of relaxation.

The meditative process of practicing staying present to the Now is as follows:

1. Take a comfortable position in an upright sitting position.

2. Allow your legs and arms to be open.

3. Allow your eyes to focus upon a chosen object. The chosen object could be a candle light in a darkened room or any point that you choose.

4. As you focus on the chosen object, allow your muscles to slowly relax from the top of your head to the tips of your toes.

5. Take three slow deep breathes in through your nose as you inhale. Hold each breath to the mental count of four. Slowly exhale each breath out through your mouth. Continue to breath at a slow pace after the three breaths.

6. Continue to focus on the chosen object. When your mind wanders to some thought or thoughts slowly and gently bring it back to your focused concentration upon the chosen object. Simply let go of the thoughts that arise. The thoughts are from the past. Stay focused to what is so.

7. Continue the practice for a prescribed period of time and then go about your daily activities. Each day that you practice you may even choose to lengthen the time you spend with this technique.

The ability to stay in the present, to access the Now, can be enhanced with the consistent practice of meditation. What this will necessitate is one making the practice of meditation apart of his or her daily schedule. With the consistent practice of meditation one will also create the ability to stay even more present to what is so even when not actively engaged in the meditative process. It is through a commitment to the practice of meditation on a daily basis that one will begin to live more fully in the Now.

Harry Henshaw, Ed.D., LMHC
http://www.enhancedhealing.com

Dr. Harry Henshaw earned his doctoral degree in Human Development and Counseling from Boston University and has designed and implemented mental health and substance abuse programs in outpatient, residential and hospital settings in Illinois, Massachusetts and Florida.

Dr. Henshaw is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Florida, a certified Clinical Supervisor and a member of the American Counseling Association & American Psychological Association. Trained in neuro-linguistic programming, Dr. Henshaw is also certified to practice and teach hypnosis in the State of Florida.

Dr. Henshaw is also in private practice in Hallandale Beach, Florida and utilizes the technology of Transformational Counseling. In addition to his work as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Supervisor, Dr. Henshaw has developed a series of audio health care products for use by professional providers and the public. http://www.enhancedhealing.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Moe, With Which Meditation Should I Go?

There are many different styles of meditation, so which one... Read More

Meditation and the Monkey Mind?

Some find the term, "monkey mind", upsetting, derogatory, and insulting.... Read More

Do You Want To Relax And Think Clearly?

Learning To Be In The MomentImagine thinking clearly, and feeling... Read More

The Mind is Like a Frisky Monkey

People are often so discouraged about the results of their... Read More

How To Meditate?

We are surrounded by negative forces like jealousy, hatred, fear,... Read More

A Hypnosis Cd - Getting the Most from Them

You should treat the use of a hypnosis cd just... Read More

Relax Into Health

I'd like to share a little secret about relaxation techniques... Read More

Holosync Meditation - Does It Really Work?

Chances are, if you are on a quest for self-improvement,... Read More

Why Should You Meditate?

Everyone's mind needs a little downtime. We all need time... Read More

Meditating - Staying Awake

Why is staying awake while meditating important? Falling asleep is... Read More

The Relationship Between Meditation and Self-Analysis

These are two very powerful tools for self-improvement, but how... Read More

Scientific Research on Transcendental Meditation (TM)

Scientific research has shown that the most beneficial meditation technique... Read More

Bhagavad Gita Commentary

Most of us have heard the story of the centipede... Read More

Active Meditation For Surges In Energy Levels!

When I first started learning about deep breathing exercises and... Read More

Druids and Meditation

It's pretty obvious that the ancient Druids used several forms... Read More

Understanding Meditation

It is impossible to overstate the importance of daily meditation.... Read More

Cultivate a Positive Mind-Set Through Meditation

You have the ability to create your own mind-set. Whether... Read More

Tips for Better Meditation

Meditation students often come to me and ask what they... Read More

Relaxation Techniques to Revitalize Body and Mind

We all get to a stage where we've just had... Read More

Mindfulness and Eating: Divine Desk Dining

Are you stuck eating lunch at your desk again?Lucky you.You... Read More

An Algorithm to Remove ?Hurt? from Pain

The behavior of pain was enigmatic. Its responses were strange.... Read More

Meditation also Gave Me Something else

Some of the greatest benefits for me have been my... Read More

Secrets of Meditation For Better Health

Meditation can improve your health, increase energy levels and maximize... Read More

Stevia 100% Natural Herbal Sweetener

Artificial sweeteners are developed in organic chemistry labs. Stevia grows... Read More

Body Talk

ZZzzzzzHow many times have you zoned out in front of... Read More

Full Body Awareness

Now that you're comfortable working with your breath it's time... Read More

Stress: Guilty As Charged

How To Defend YourselfDo you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed?... Read More

Can Cognitive Fitness Be a Workout for Your Brain?

There is growing interest to exercise your brain using something... Read More

Quieting the Mind Opening the Heart

To put it simply, the act of meditation involves quieting... Read More

Meditation: A Path To Inner Peace

Throughout history, meditation has been an integral part of many... Read More

Breathing

Breathe in through your nose and draw your breath down... Read More

Understanding Meditation

Meditation has been around for many thousands of years. It... Read More

Muraqaba- The Sufi Meditation By Sufi-Master Khwaja Shamsuddin Azeemi

When we try to learn a new skill or try... Read More