Part of the answer lies in a previous column about dreams and how in our slumber state we can receive messages which we can then apply to our waking hours. The other part lies in today’s “Focus” card from Denise Linn’s Soul Coaching deck.

Tips to focus on the here and now:

- Awareness is key: when you find yourself thinking about the wouldas, couldas, shouldas, you’re out of the moment. Once you know this, you can just as easily snap back into the present and re-focus on what you were doing.

- When you’re experiencing any big negative emotions such as anger, guilt, criticism or judgement, consider is it because you are out of the moment? Most of these feelings by default draw our attention away from the present by causing us to stew on the past or worry about the future. 

- Live life according to Bil Keane’s famous quote: “Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.” Sometimes things happen, like the experience you described, because it prompts us to ask questions. It takes us on a path of discovery and as the saying goes, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” In your case, I feel you would gain a raft of benefits from exploring the theory and practice of living in the now. It would be remiss of me to write about the present moment without quoting who I consider to be The Master of The Now (and your new teacher) Eckhart Tolle. In 2011, he was listed as the most spiritually influential person in the world. In other words, he knows a thing or two about living a life with purpose and presence. Send your questions for Sharon to editor@areanews.com.au