Being Present
The degree of presence = The degree of freedom from programming |
Many spiritual advisors today tell us to be present – just be here now.
It is relatively easy to become aware of the subtle sense of aliveness in our bodies and focus on the present moment, yet for most of us, this awareness is extremely difficult to maintain. We continually get caught up in our internal self-talk which is always worrying about the future or ruminating about the past. Why?
This internal dialogue is a reflection of our programming. Our programming keeps us from evolving. The programmed self is composed of choices made mostly by others regarding who and what we should be. Gender identity is a huge part of this programmed self. When we don’t measure up to the expectations of others we feel unworthy and unlovable. We suffer. We come to believe that if we are present and aware we will suffer, so we learn to dissociate our sense of self from presence (which is our true nature) to avoid feeling frustrated, inadequate and angry. We develop a false self based on external influence to try to make ourselves worthy and lovable.
Exercise: Assign a percentage to each factor listed below that you think represents its importance in shaping who you are today:
| Genetics |
|
_____ |
| Upbringing |
|
_____ |
| Culture |
|
_____ |
| Individual Experience |
|
_____ |
| Culture |
|
_____ |
| Individual Choice |
|
_____ |
Total 100%
Three reasons for doing this exercise are:
1. It helps to enlarge perspective to include all factors
2. It decreases the extreme mindset and self-blame that we all have
3. It factors in the cultural influences on our sense of self
Because of our programming we become stimulus-response machines that automatically respond to present stimulus based on past conditioning.
Conscious choice is only possible in this moment. Deprogramming ourselves by dis-identifying with automatic mental and emotional patterns is the work of the Hero Myth.
| “What you are looking for is the one who is looking.” |
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| -Saint Francis of Assisi |
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In order to deconstruct our programming we need to identify with presence (the one who is looking). To do this we need to tolerate whatever content arises, including feelings of being unloved and unworthy.
Chapters 3 – 4 –5 of the book (see home page for chapter headings) provide the tools that are necessary for this journey.
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Bobbi OBrien
