When writing down my life lessons so far in 30 years, this one immediately came to mind: The Present Moment, or sometimes I coin the NOW moment.
When I started reading Eckhart Tolle's book A New Earth, I was really confused at first reading about a part of myself called the Ego. He mentions time and time again how the Ego controls us through emotional attachment, wanting to always win/never die, and having our true selves all caught up with forms of thought.
After a few chapters in, I began to hear the small voice (some people/coaches call it the monkey mind) talking to me, feeding me doubt, causing me to go into long orations of how I was going to give people I didn't like a "piece of my mind", so on and so forth. When I realized this, I called out the Ego right there and then. I sometimes laughed at it, lessening its grip. Other times I simply said to myself, "Wow, Mr. Ego, you are really trying hard to make me act emtionally", and other techniques I still use to this day. Taking the moments to realize the voice of the ego became progressively easier to detect (in myself and others). It not only has lengthened my "temper fuse", but overall has made me a more mindful and aware individual.
I always had a hard time to meditate because my thoughts would race through my mind, always keeping me at a extremely fast pace, keeping track of what is next, what is my next to-do list to accomplish, rather than taking the moments to truly appreciate (without labeling or defining) the Present Moment in my Life.
I now meditate all the time for enjoyment, not for the sake of going through the "motions" of routine/practice. Becoming aware of Now-moment is easy to say yet tricky to do...until you call out your ego for what it is and become loving and humble in all you do.
If you would like more information on the present moment, meditation or simply more information feel free to book an appointment with me - I would love to share and see how I can best help you on your Journey!