My psychologist has recommended that I stay "present"" (i.e not think of the future or the past) in my daily life to overcome my anxiety. Has anybody managed to master this, and if so, what are some helpful hints? Thanks.
2007-07-26 19:55:52 · 6 answers · asked by natty watty 2 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Figure this out: Your experience is Your reality- and visa versa. That's enough (thought), right there, to keep you "Present."
"You",, "Are",, "Here",,-right at your monitor reading me, "Now".
Nobody in the universe is experiencing what your experiencing, "NOW"
to remain "Conscious" is another story, fear makes us "Unconscious" (and all negative emotions are based on fear) we are then, NOT Here and Now, we are somewhere back; "There",,,, "Then" reliving an old fear, taped response ( usually a tantrum:) Light to you.
2007-07-26 20:14:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A good way of staying present is to discover where your timeline runs, and make sure you're in the present.
We all have a timeline - a system in our heads that we use to represent where the past, present and future are in relation to us. Often a timeline runs from back to front, with the past behind and the future in front; sometimes it runs from side to side, with the past to the left and the future to the right, or if you're left handed, possibly the other way around.
Think of an incident in the past; where is it located in your imagination? Now think of an incident in the future and locate that too. I think you get the idea, and from this you can figure out where your timeline runs. Where you are standing is the present.
If you want to become present, then visualise your timeline so you can see the future and the past, then physically 'feel' your entire body, especially the soles of your feet upon the ground. This will ground you in the present, and put everything in perspective.
Once you get the hang of where your timeline runs, you can experiment with travelling along it, visiting the past and future, but with a solid anchor in the present that you can come back to anytime you wish, just by feeling the soles of your feet upon the ground.
2007-07-27 03:18:18 · answer #2 · answered by Dogstarrr 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, and I wouldn't want to. A better goal is mindfulness, which isn't the same thing. Some of the downsides of "staying present" include a focus on immediate gratification and a diminished capacity for planning. Many Buddhists would say something to the effect of, "That's not what is meant by being present."
___This is one of the dangers of dead metaphors-- when figurative language is so overused that it comes to be taken as literal. Mindfulness is a more literal expression for staying focussed and attentive on what one is doing, whether that is planning for the future or sorting out the past or engaging in a present practical task or even relaxing. And mindfulness includes taking responsibility for one's attention, and paying attention to how one is using one's mind.
2007-07-27 03:16:15 · answer #3 · answered by G-zilla 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've not mastered it-but there is this guy who has a free meditation cd to download-it sounds really wierd at first, but I swear, I found things not bothering me as much-it's more on the spiritual side than the psych side, but you should try it for a few nights. It's free.
FHU.com-- i think , foundation for human understanding.
his name is Roy Masters.
2007-07-27 03:10:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. If I live to be a hundred, I can only do it a moment at a time. If I live this one well, it sets up the next, and the next, etc. The very worst thing I ever had to survive never actually happened.
2007-07-27 04:46:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have not mastered it but I have found my Mantra and by mentally repeating it and doing some deep breathing, I am able to stay free of medications. If you want to try these things, email me. Best wishes.
2007-07-27 03:03:27 · answer #6 · answered by Swamy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋