Living in "The Pause"
Whatever happened before is gone. Whatever comes next is completely unknown. All we can do is live in the present moment.
This isn’t merely an obvious observation of our current circumstances. These teachings are thousands of years old, pre-dating Buddhism.
The current climate is the perfect illustration of this point, writ large. It’s a flashing neon sign:
“Get it now?”
The more we compare our current situation to how things “used to be,” the more frustrated and despondent we can become. The more we latch on to what we miss and what is different now, the less satisfied we are with the present.
On the flip side, the more we try to control the unknown by mentally leaping towards an unknown future, the more anxiety we create. If we presume future circumstances to be bad, we create fear and anxiety pretty much directly, fearing what’s to come. If we live in a projection of a positive, optimistic version of the future, we still create anxiety because there is a feeling of chasing that future. Of needing to catch up to somewhere we are not yet.
So whether we are reminiscing about what we now “lack,” ducking and hiding from a fearful future, or hustling to chase something down, we are stealing from the present moment. The more we do it, the more it becomes a habit. The more displaced we feel from our own lives.
Of course, it’s natural to remember the good times and reminisce with loved ones. Of course, it’s natural to be hesitant of the unknown. Of course, it’s natural to look to a brighter future and set goals for how to get there. But if we find ourselves “stuck” in one of these modes of being, then it’s time to re-evaluate.
If you want to boost your connection to this moment, here and now, practice “living in the pause.” It’s the space between what was and what is. The Pause is the ever-unfolding present.