“Hope and fear are both phantoms
that arise from thinking of the self.”
From the Tao te Ching by Lao-tzu, translated by S. Mitchell
Hi folks! Thanks for stopping by!
I consider meditation, and more specifically meditating on living ‘in the now,‘ as a key component of any program of safe exercise for better health. The goal is to plan and prepare wisely, whilst not giving into useless anxiety.
Here we are, my son, Nigel, and I, about 14 hours from the start of the Los Cabos Ironman race. The swim is beautiful, with just the right water temperature, the bike course is hilly, and the run will be REALLY hot. Perfect for a long race day, and plenty to worry about. The day before such a grueling endurance event always leaves you with a choice, once your gear is racked, and all you have to do is rest your legs.
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle is used by FitOldDog to calm his mind on a regular basis.
What is the choice you may ask? Simple, to worry or not to worry! Will I cramp in the swim, have mechanical trouble on the bike, or bomb on the run, whatever? The mind loves to worry. But life happens now and only now. In that respect, Eckhard Tolle hit the secret to a happy life right on the head. Living in the now is the way to go, because tomorrow only exists in our imagination. It’s easy to take bad experiences from past races and paste them onto our fears for tomorrow. What a waste of time! There is a lovely view from the hotel (see picture above), I’m with my great son, can rest and read a book, eat, and write my blog of course. What’s to worry about?
My recommendation for pre-race tension is to use it as an opportunity for a ‘living in the now’ meditation. Give it a try. It’s the road to contentment and happiness.
Don’t waste this precious moment on concern for tomorrow. Works for me, anyway!
Happy meditating!
-k @FitOldDog
Living in the now! In a way self evident really.
This was the conclusion of Severus Boetheus 1500 years ago and he was awaiting torture and execution!
Yes, in the NOW is a good time to live
Yes! But if your mind (ego) has taken over your brain this is very hard to do. This is the case for most Westerners, it would appear. The NOW is a great place to live much of the time. Thanks for your comment and send my regards to Severus. -kevin