How To Stop Flying Through The Present Moment

“Now put your toes over the edge of the platform, reach out, and grab the bar with your hands. I’ve got you.”

Ahhh really? You’ve got me? Then why don’t I feel safe?

Maybe it’s because I am standing 25 feet up, on a tiny platform, presumably about to take my virgin flight on a flying trapeze bar.

And I’m paralyzed.

The safety harnesses and net below do nothing to calm down my adrenaline-soaked brain.

In my current state, reaching out to the bar means one of two things will happen:

• I would accidentally fall off the platform and hurt myself
• I would voluntarily jump off the platform, swing the air, and then fall and hurt myself

Neither option was appealing to me.

So I stood there. Visibly shaking.

The only thought running through my head was, “Why did I sign up for this again?”

Here’s the truth: I was looking for some adventure.

I wanted to shake things up, get my blood flowing, and have an experience that stretched me outside of my comfort zone.

Plus – and you might not have realized this yet – this is my kind of fun.

I like to scare the hell out of myself on occasion. Skydiving, zip-lining, sliding down waterfalls, horseback riding. These are some activities I’ve used to wake me up out of the stupor of life.

Otherwise, I have a tendency to get stuck in my routines and mental loops: creating plans for the future and worrying about the concerns of the day.

If I go too long without an experience to remind me that all is well in the moment I lose sight of this fact.

I forget that I am the creator of my life and how I feel and how much fun I have – and that I have this choice in every moment.

After reminding myself of this fact I grabbed the bar and jumped.

It was exhilarating. It was so much fun. Especially when I didn’t hurt myself.

Back on the ground

What I realize now that I have my feet firmly planted on the ground is that it isn’t necessary to go so far out of my way (or high off the ground) to shake me loose from my mind.

I have this choice in every moment.

And so do you.

It is easy to get caught up with life. It is easy to focus on ALL you have to do and how little time you have to do it in. It is easy to live in an overwhelmed mind.

It is harder to step out of it. To pause and focus on this moment.

I encourage you to close your eyes right now and breath in deeply. Remember all that is right in your world. Exhale fully and open your eyes.

Just this moment has changed you. It is brought you back to you. It has brought you back to life. No trapeze bar required.

How do you break out of mental loops and enjoy the present moment? Be sure to share in the comments below.