As I sit here writing this, I like to think I'm completely in the moment. I'm sitting on my front porch, the birds are singing and my dog is eyeing a squirrel on the lawn.
But really, she's the one in the moment. My mind wanders to the grass that needs to be cut, the hose that needs to be put away and how I could really use another cup of coffee.
Do you remember the first time you understood what it was like to live in the moment?
To cherish the time you have. To appreciate what's around you. To be grateful for what or who is in front of you. It's a wonderful feeling. It makes me feel full of love, satisfaction and so very hopeful.
And if you're anything like me, you probably forgot again... like 5 minutes later.
I guess that's why we need to be reminded so often. Just scroll down your social feed and you’ll see at least one reminder to “be in the moment” or “live fully” or “be present”. (Unfortunately, that’s exactly when we’re NOT living in the moment!)
Taking a cue from the past
Rituals and scents have been used for ages to keep humans grounded.
A ritual helps you reset and put everything else aside. It's something you do with intention. That makes it different from a habit—which is often mindless. Or even a routine—which can be cumbersome.
Some wonderful simple rituals are auditory—like singing or listening to a song, or ringing a bell or a gong. I find that a really powerful ritual takes less than a minute and incorporates scent.
Scent helps to clear the moment, removing any other energy hanging around. Scents take a direct route to the limbic system which houses the areas in your brain related to emotion and memory. Rituals that incorporate scent can be lighting an incense stick or cone, dropping a few drops of essential oil into a diffuser, or lighting a fragrant candle.
Kristy and I (and many customers--like you) use Avoila Nourishing Face Oil as a ritual. Done with intention and focus, it's a great way to spend 20 seconds to breathe in the essential oils and smooth the oil onto your skin. And, lightly pressing into your face helps you make an intentional connection with yourself.
It’s a lovely way to start and end your day. It’s something that you would do anyway, but you can make it a time for you to tune everything else out and focus on your senses.
And, now I did go get that second cup of coffee. I will lift the mug to my lips, breathe in the aroma and savor the first sip.
Of course right on cue, the dog finally got her opportunity to chase that squirrel up the tree and now I’m thinking about my to-do list again… until next time!
