The Power of Staying in ‘the Now’

The Power of Staying in ‘the Now’

Ancient spiritual teachings have always reminded us that peace exists in the present moment. Today neuroscience quietly agrees, and this is where science meets inner peace.

Most of our stress does not come from what is happening in ‘the now’. It comes from when the mind goes walkabout on its travels. When the mind revisits the past with regret, guilt, or hurt. We rush into the future with worry, anxiety and fear. In so doing, we leave the only place where life is actually happening — this very moment.

In spirituality, we can see that the soul loses stability and inner power when the mind wanders in time. At that time science would say that the brain activates its defence mechanisms.

When we think about a painful memory or imagine a future problem, the amygdala — the brain’s alarm centre — reacts as if the danger is real and present. The body shifts into “fight or flight” mode. All systems are put on red alert for the body to prepare for any danger … and that danger can be real, that is right in front of us, or simply a fabrication of the mind. Either way the body will react in the same manner preparing to fight or flee.

The bio-system goes into overdrive mode: Adrenaline rises. Cortisol is released. Breathing becomes shallow. The heart beats faster. Blood pressure increases. All this can happen while we are sitting safely in a quiet room, or while we are in our car, well anywhere that our mind chooses to run unchecked.

The body does not always know the difference between an actual threat and a remembered or imagined one. So even when nothing is happening externally, internally we may be huffing and puffing — simply because of our thoughts. Our chest constricts and we panic as each breath becomes harder to take.

We must understand that stress is not normal.

We must understand that stress is not normal. To live in a constant state of anxiety will create some sickness and at some time the body will breakdown, and that will be its call for help.

Now here is the beautiful part.

Slow breathing stimulates the vagus nerve.

When we gently bring our attention back to this present moment — especially through slow, conscious breathing — we activate the parasympathetic nervous system, the body shifts back into the “rest and restore” mode. Meditation can help us achieve this too as we shift into a mindful state of being. Slow breathing stimulates the vagus nerve. Actually, this nerve with a little name is responsible for so much internal balance and regulation, it’s simply amazing.

The bio-system can pacify the nervous system once it receives the right signals.

The heart rate softens. Blood pressure lowers. Stress hormones reduce. The brain receives the message: “You are safe.” Spiritually, we will call this returning to the self.

Scientifically, we see that the nervous system is being re-balanced and reset. Our breath is our bridge between the two. We cannot breathe in yesterday. We cannot breathe in tomorrow. Every breath happens only ever in ‘the now’ moment.

When we sit quietly and take a slow breath to inhale … followed by a gentle exhale … we step out of our mental time travel. The mind becomes steady. The body settles. Clarity returns. In this moment, there is usually no crisis — only awareness.

Research on mindfulness shows that regular present-moment awareness reduces over-activity in the amygdala and strengthens the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain responsible for wisdom, emotional balance, and thoughtful response. In other words, staying present not only feels peaceful; it rewires the brain for peace.

Inner peace is not something we ‘manufacture’

Inner peace is not something we ‘manufacture’. It is what remains when the mind stops running – kind of returning to a default. When everything else is removed, the worry, the fear and the anxiety from the thinking mind, then what is left is peace.

Staying in ‘the now’ does not mean ignoring responsibilities or pretending the future does not matter. It means meeting life from a place of stability instead of being stuck in survival mode thinking. When we are present, we respond instead of react; we choose instead of panic; we create from a steady state of mind, instead of fear and confusion.

In this very second, here right now … Nothing from the past is happening … Nothing from the future has arrived … There is only the breath … the being … consciousness … awareness … Here I am free and undisturbed … And in this sweet breath — there is peace.

The power of staying in ‘the now’ combines spiritual truth with biological wisdom. It is the meeting point of the perfection of Nature and the soul.

Because ‘the now’ is all we can ever experience. When the future moment comes, we will be in ‘the now’ once again. We cannot live and be anywhere else, so it’s always now.

It’s Time … to be in ‘the now’ and start living in present time consciousness.