In The Power of Now Eckhart Tolle suggests: “Make it your practice to withdraw attention from past and future whenever they are not needed…Be present as the watcher of your mind—of your thoughts and emotions as well as your reactions in various situations. Be at least as interested in your reactions as in the situation or person that causes you to react.”
I’ve found this to be a very helpful practice during my time on the Board these past three years. Life is joyful for me when I live in the moment and consider each instant a holy instant, as they say in . While I can’t honestly say every moment has been holy, mindfulness has often helped me create a gap between a situation and my response. Knowing that divine ideas manifest good in my life, I am mindful of which thoughts rule my consciousness and actions.
It is wonderful to see that western medicine is also embracing mindfulness as a way to enrich our lives, improve our health, and cope with pain and sickness. A recent Mayo Clinic health letter described several programs in which participants were taught to practice mindfulness. As they felt the pain and observed the sensations in their bodies, they also learned to minimize their reactions to the distressing thoughts and feelings that can accompany illness and pain. The more they practiced mindfulness, the more they were able to regulate their emotions and form a buffer against the everyday stresses of life.
Mindfulness, living in the moment, brings me joy. So does gratitude. As my time on the Board comes to an end, I am grateful to have consistently worked with a creative, caring, and active Board of Trustees. I am profoundly thankful to all of you wonderful volunteers who have helped me coordinate and watch over our growing Children & Family Ministry, our bookstore, and amazing events, such as World Peace Day. I appreciate each and every one of you who show up on Sunday. Together, centered in God, we transform lives. Finally, I want to thank my generous and loving husband, Kerry, who has always been there giving of his time and talent.
In Love & Light,
Cindy Jacobs, Unity Board of Trustees
