“Live today. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. Just today. Inhabit your moments.” – Jerry Spinelli
Day 11 – Time Makes Relationships Blossom
CENTERING THOUGHT
I give my relationships quality time.
SANSKRIT MANTRA
Aham Prema (I am love.)
Message of the Day
In today’s meditation, we explore the benefits that living in the present moment can bring to our personal relationships. Too often our beliefs around time put up barriers and restrictions to the free flow of emotions in intimate relationships. You may feel as if you never have enough time to spend with each other, or when you’re together that one or both of your minds is elsewhere, instead of being fully present with one another. As we become more proficient in living in the present moment, our time with loved ones allows our relationships to deepen and strengthen. When we live in the now, the time we spend together is more fulfilling.
Journal Questions
- Often, we find ourselves holding beliefs and pressures about time and relationships, such as “I should be married by age 30,” or “I need to have children before it’s too late.” Sometimes these beliefs cause us to make choices in relationships that do not serve us. Journal about a time in your life when you held on to a relationship due to the perceived constraint of time. For example, it could be a romantic relationship or perhaps an unsatisfying childhood friendship you maintained out of a sense of obligation.
- When you make time for the other person in a relationship, you make room for the relationship to grow. Bring to mind two relationships you value but feel could use more growth. Journal about when you can find more time for them, and potential activities you could do that would help you grow together.
- When you devote time to a relationship, you need to give of yourself. Thinking about the two relationships from Question 2, list a few ways you can be more generous of yourself, such as listening more, showing more interest, being more honest with your feelings, or not taking the relationship for granted. Are there areas in your relationship that you know this other person wants you to contribute to more, but you haven’t made the effort yet?
- Reflect further on your experience today.