Freeze Frame (By Vance Larson )

Have you ever stopped and thought what if this were the last time I saw the person in front of me? Through years of meditation I have learned to step into the present moment. By doing this, it makes life so much more meaningful. I like to call this practice Freeze Frame.

By being aware of each moment, we begin to actually appreciate the beauty and meaning of it. How many times over the course of our lives do we miss moments of importance? Through my 3 decades as a mental health professional, I have heard "if only I told them I loved them" (the last time I saw them). This comes up in grief counselling quite a lot. It's similar to the old saying never go to bed angry. The principle is the same. Life does not guarantee us time. You can be present, angry, yet still let someone know that you still love them. Why do we not say it?

Freeze frame. The ability to know that each moment is sacred and that it should be treated as such. In a world full of fast paced thinking, talking and technology, how many of us are missing what is truly important? The person standing in front of us. What would you say or do differently if you knew this was the last time you would see them again? While this is rather a foreign thought for many, (especially for the younger crowd) eventually enough time will pass and every conversation will be your last with a loved one.

I am guilty of this too. But through meditation, and my years of work as a counsellor, I am reminded of it more and more often. When we think Freeze Frame, we actually allow for our communication to be relevant, meaningful and enjoyed. By taking a Zen posture, you are fully committing to the moment. As we do this, we are showing great respect and love for the time shared with another.

Freeze Frame doesn't always have to be about meaningful conversations with a loved one. It sometimes is a vehicle for staying on task. There is a beauty that comes when we slow down. We tend to make less mistakes, thus fewer frustrations.

I remember doing a lecture many years ago at a local hospital on stress. While doing my research I discovered that 7 out of 10 people with a visit to their primary care physician, were due to stress or stress related conditions (I'm sure that number has changed since then). But my thought was, what if we learned to control our stress? Does that mean we could decrease the likelihood of us getting sick? Something to think about.

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What Is Meant To Be Will Always Find A Way

Why do we wish away the present moment hoping for something better?

Our inattentiveness creates anguish and disappointment, because we're certain when we get what we want, we'll be happy.

Yet, when it arrives there's another desire waiting to take its place.

We're in the business of wanting more since it's human nature to seek what is lacking in our lives.

The problem is, we become fixated on wanting and desiring, instead of appreciating what is before us. Hence the cycle of suffering ensues.

If we consider the present moment as perfect, what is meant to be will find its way into our lives effortlessly.

To accept this moment means to appreciate that your present circumstances result from past thoughts and actions.

I'm not suggesting you abandon your desires, rather consider them in a new light.

"One conscious moment of introspection can yield huge lifelong benefits; simply by breaking old patterns of disbelief, and courageously believing - knowing - that you are meant to be here, and that your life has meaning," states author Robbie Vorhaus in One Less. One More.

Have you noticed when you hope for something, it seldom occurs as you expect? However, the moment you surrender, it makes its way into your life with little worry.

Most fears stem from expecting life to develop in a particular way. When it fails to materialise, we experience disappointment.

Surely there's a better way?

It was Albert Einstein who said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them." Our distorted thoughts are the cause of our problems, so we transform them to create a better outcome.

We cannot change outside circumstances to please us, so we must change our response to the events.

Reality is not the source of your unhappiness, because reality constantly changes. When outside conditions are not to our liking we are less than satisfied.

What if we reinterpret the unpleasant events of our life?

Every event has the potential to teach us something about our life story. It conveys the wisdom to create a compelling narrative, if we acknowledge our circumstances with openness.

Whether you're a determinist, a fatalist or believe in free will, you accept there's an inherent order to life devoid of our control.

Speak to anyone who's been in a motor vehicle accident and they'll tell you their world was uprooted in the blink of an eye. Life can change at the drop of a hat, so we ought to be attentive to what we value most.

What is meant to be invites you to let go of the mental struggle that opposes the natural flow of life.

"Some of us might feel that pursuing thoughts of "what might have been" can only focus us on the randomness of the events and thus make it more difficult for us to accept what is. But studies have found the opposite. Rather than eliciting a sense of randomness, thoughts that consider alternatives to the factual realities we've experienced (known as counterfactuals) can help us feel like the events were predestined and meant to be, thereby lending them greater meaning," affirms author Guy Winch.

Not that you need my assurance, but take it regardless - life knows what it's doing.

I know you may find it difficult to grasp when caught up in unpleasant conditions. Yet life proceeds regardless of your resistance to it.

Through your willingness to embrace your conditions, however painful, you consent to be a co-creator to the experience of life.

Looking back, you no doubt faced setbacks and found your way through them. You developed courage and a compelling inner resolve that firmed your character.

Major change is often precipitated by chaos and disorder, which gives birth to something wonderful. I remind you of the big bang responsible for creating the universe.

Your arrival into this world is attributed to a similar event. Your birthmother no doubt underwent protracted labour to give life to the person you call "I."

From agony arises creation and so with our pain.

Consider the events leading to your birth. Reflect on your parents' meeting and the unforeseen circumstances that may have derailed their union. Irrespective of your conception, your birth is a miraculous testimony that life has your back.

I admire the quote by respected psychotherapist David Richo, "To say yes to this given is to trust that the universe has a plan for us and that things are unfolding in this life just in time for us to grow into the beings we were meant to be. This is the Buddhist concept of karma as meaningful coincidence. Our own plans are based on our limited knowledge. The fact that things happen beyond our control and lead us to new vistas means that grace has come into play."

Everything happens for a reason, yet we may not be privy to the reasons until the entire picture is formed. Sometimes, we don't realise it in this lifetime. Yet, we take comfort in a greater intelligence guiding every facet of our life and the billions of people on this planet.

How do we allow fate to find its way into our life without despairing?

Trust that life supports our needs and will continue to do so as long as we maintain faith. It may not unfold how we imagine it, but we believe in this benevolent force, regardless.

We trust in the language of the heart and sense our way through life.

So, when a condition arises that does not match our mental picture, we move into our heart and consider the greater lesson contained within the experience.

Life is self-serving, because you are the embodiment of life. The universe expresses itself through you since it cannot perceive the material realm without a user.

You are the user and the experiencer, ushering life through you.

So stop wishing away the present moment, hoping for something better and be present and attentive to your surroundings.

Afterall, what is meant to be will always find a way into your life, whether you consent to it or not.

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