What's now?

Stop fixating on what's next for a change.

On December 28, I hosted a Goal Setting Workshop at my home. Something interesting happened once the participants were caffeinated and connected.

Someone asked if we could change the word “goals” to “intentions.”

And she wasn’t alone. Everyone wanted to think about the year that was closing — and imagine the one arriving — but not with an eye towards accomplishment. Instead, the group was far more focused on attention. What they wanted to invite in and what they wanted to usher out.

Less waiting, more participating

Fewer fantasies, more experiments

Less proving, more choosing

That simple request from one participant gave permission to everyone to stay in the present, even as they contemplated the future.

My Reiki Master heart did a happy dance. Because the present moment is your life. If you can get over the bumper stickerness of it, these words can change the way you live.

During meditation? The moment you realize you aren’t present, you become present. At you sit here reading this? You are both the youngest you’ll ever be and the oldest you’ll ever be. Being in your body in the present moment is not something to be avoided — it’s actually the opposite of the void. It’s the realest thing we’ve got.

Earth School is always in session and you never earn a certificate.

Attending to each moment is the curriculum of our lives, yet we try to skip lessons we don’t like to get somewhere else. We resist facing ourselves — literally the only person we can’t sever ties with. It’s funny if you think about it and add some campy blooper sound effects.

Our goal-fixation even shows up in “enlightened” spaces. The class I like best at my yoga studio is called “Yoga for the Inflexible.” I’m not inflexible, but all the other classes feel like a competition for who can out-pretzel everyone else. I realize that my alpha itch gets scratched when I play tennis. Or race to get to Spelling Bee Genius in record time. Yet yoga is where I want to be slow, contemplative, meditative.

“Progress in yoga isn’t ‘harder poses.’ it’s softer reactions, steadier breath, kinder self-talk.”

So as you enter these early weeks of 2026, catch yourself being seduced by what’s new, more, better, bigger. Take a breath and ask yourself “what’s now?”

Until next time, remember that creativity knows no bounds.