Live Like The Cats Do

This blog post is about changing your thinking to benefit your life the most. It’s only for those who are really ready for a change and raise your abilities to their highest.

I have a short story to make my point. At this moment of writing this blog I have ten animals. I have three dogs, two turtles, two lizards and three cats. I know, it’s quite chaotic at my house, though I understand now that it’s something I’ve created in my life, based on my past. But never mind that, that will be another blog post. For now I want to talk about my cats.

Jade and Lily are counter surfers. Anyone who owns cats may have this problem. I am constantly shooing them off the counters. They will come back in 30 seconds and get up there again. I might shout something like, “didn’t I just tell you to get down?” I am almost sure they understand me, because they get down, perhaps it’s because I am loud when I yell, or maybe it‘s because I chase them around the house with a spray bottle full of water.

But for one instant I think it’s because they remembered they are not supposed to get up there. But then, I can’t believe my eyes, not ten minutes later they are up there again. Which brings me to my point. Cats, and dogs all live in the present moment. They do not look to the future nor the past. They are instinctive. They smell food, or want to view from the kitchen window so bad they will do anything to get that. They do not remember that ten minutes ago they were shooed away, nor do they care. Obviously.

We as humans are the only ones blessed to have this ability, where we can use the past to help us in our life today. This is a great tool if we use it correctly.

Do you know anyone who lives in the past? They blame their past upbringings for their current situation. Blame their parents. Blame their childhood environment. Blame anyone or anything they can to give up responsibility to for their current situation? They are very frustrated and spinning out of control. I would venture to guess that anyone reading this knows a few people who live like that.

Now as I watch the cats forget that not two minutes ago I was just chasing them around the house with that spray bottle they have simply forgotten the past. I don’t think it’s because they have short term memory loss, though that might be the problem with these two. But it’s because they live in the present moment. Sometimes I bet you wish you could forget the past too. Just like cats do. But if we can use the past to help us make better choices then we have a great tool at our disposal.

As for me, I live in the future, it looks like this. "I will begin to live my life when I can make enough money to buy the things I want, and go to the places I have always wanted to go." When. When. When. I used to live in the past, but I made the switch to living in the future somewhere in my 20‘s. I used to look to the past for blame as to why I wasn’t becoming the person I wanted to become. When the answers were right here in front of me staring me in the face. I just had to reach out and take hold of them and make the decision to want to change and do the work necessary to start my journey. I used to look to the past for resolution to my future and never could find the right answers.

Guess why?!

The solutions’ NOT there. Use the future as a place to strive for but don't live there. There is no future or past they are illusions. There is only NOW. No really, the past and the future are only what we make them up to be.

In the book by Eckhart Tolle’s, called The Power of Now, explains there is no past and no future there is only now. This present moment in which we should focus most of our energy.

Let me ask you something. When does tomorrow come? Yes I know if it's Thursday, which it is right now, then most likely Friday will come, at least for some of us. But then there is still another tomorrow. You can call the days whatever you want, but tomorrow is very unique.

We all wish for it to come (when we are looking forward to change) or so we think at the time. Here are some examples of what I am talking about.

"I will start my exercise program tomorrow."

"I will make better choices about what I eat tomorrow."

"I will play with my kids, and listen more to my spouse tomorrow."

"I will start working on improving my business tomorrow."

Those of us who really know how this tomorrow thing works, knows better than anyone, tomorrow never comes. It might surface for a few moments but it never stays for long. If you want your “tomorrow” to change, something in today has to change. We have to start making the new habits. They won’t change themselves unless we are forced to make the change out of our control. We did not exercise at all and we became overweight and now I am a diabetic because of it. I have been forced to change because I didn’t make the necessary changes on my own.

Would you rather make the change on your own or be forced to do it? I would rather start it today on my own while I have the choice to make in the first place. If you are to have anything in your life that you truly desire, no sense in waiting for it, create it in some form today. If you want more money, find a way to create it somehow today. You want to get in better shape then find a way to start today. Park father away from work and walk there. Take the stairs. Walk during lunch. Find a way to have more freedom in your current situation.

I want freedom so much in my life. I have so many things that I love to do, but am limited because I am so busy with work. I am a personal trainer and teach a weight loss class. I also work at the gym every Saturday. I am also working at a in home daycare as an assistant director. How do you think I can get more freedom in my life? Do I quit my current Saturday job answering the phone and folding towels? I currently work six days a week, and have big dreams for myself and my partner. I want to travel more, and live life fully. How can I do that if I am called in other directions for employment? I have to find a way to get more freedom in this present moment. Spend my time more wisely. Work towards building a business that can sustain an income that creates freedom for me.

How do you like your current situation? Is there anything in it that you would love to change, add or get rid of? Then ask yourself, “How can I get more of that in my life right now?” Take responsibility for your life. Do not blame anyone for your current situation (except the cats). You were the one who made all those choices. Even if you think, “I was forced to make them,” you really did have a choice. There may have been a consequence for that choice but what would have been worse? That consequence or what your facing now?

Be responsible, be smart, be strong and live your life in the present moment. Get the book “Power of Now.” let it change your life, as it did mine. Be free, be in control of your now, and STAY OFF THE COUNTERS.