How Are You NOW

This question came up at a training over the weekend.  It is a powerful inquiry that takes all the chaos of life's events and distills them into one precious moment.  There is no judging about the question or the possible answer.  There is no messy talk about feelings and whether they are valid or worthy.  Instead, there is a simple question that invites just as simple and direct a response.

This question is not to be confused with the "how's it going" greeting from people you don't really know like the check out guy at the grocery store.  To acquaintances at the store, a simple answer might suffice, i.e. "good--it's good..."  But, to the traveler on the curious path of self improvement, the question can mean so much more.

For better or worse, the answer is always shifting because our moods, our circumstances, our people, our level of engagement is always shifting.  I might be very revitalized after a big workout, ready to take on the world with positive intention.  On the other hand, I might be very dejected after a long day at the hospital with lots of people in crisis.  And, let's be honest--what about everything in between--the stuff of life?

It is worthwhile to slow down long enough and step back with a deep breath and ask this question.  Life is moving by at the speed of technology which is too demanding for the average person.  Sometimes there is no way to ground down to the moment unless you physically stop moving and doing so that you can start breathing and listening.

We are not our bodies.  We are not our emotions.  We are not the roles we play.  But, they all matter dearly, and they can all play a part in answering the question, "How are you NOW?".

My friend, Todd, came to yoga class last week and simply said, "Karen, when is it going to stop?".  I told him it isn't.  Since that is mostly true and the "stuff" of life is always happening to us, around us, near us or our people, it is US who has to stop.  We have to stop the madness and slow down and step back and be open to the answers to our own questions, free of judging the answers while knowing they are always shifting.

When I notice how I am NOW, I can often determine what my next step is.  I might even be able to discover what I am capable of.  On the other hand, I might just notice how I am--and simply let it be what it is for the moment.

All of this is de-stressing, which is precisely why it matters so much.  This week, take a moment at any time and anywhere to simply breathe in deeply and ask yourself honestly "how am I NOW?" so that you can discover where you are and what you might want next.  You deserve a happy, healthy, fulfilling life starting right NOW.