This Moment is Your Teacher
The present moment is your greatest teacher—stop avoiding it, embrace it, and let it guide you forward.
“This very moment is the perfect teacher, and, lucky for us, it’s with us wherever we are.” — Pema Chödrön
The present moment—how often do we take it for granted? We let it slip by, distracted or overwhelmed, thinking about the past or worrying about the future. Yet the present moment is always there. It’s always teaching us, but only if we choose to listen.
For years, I didn’t listen. I was overwhelmed, consumed by the weight of life’s problems. So, I buried them, ignored them, and pretended things were fine.
But the truth has a way of catching up to you. It did for me.
Here’s what I’ve faced:
- The death of my father at an early age that I never fully coped with.
- Losing my first career, which I had poured myself into, even though it never really felt right for years.
- Walking away from my faith that I had doubts about since childhood.
- The end of my first marriage that I kept trying to fix, even when it became clear early on that it wasn’t the best for either of us.
In each of these situations, I missed many opportunities to face the moment. Instead of focusing on what was happening right then, I avoided the discomfort. But the discomfort didn’t go away; it only grew.
So, why did I avoid the present? Why do we all?
Fear
- What will people think?
- What if I fail?
- Where do I go from here?
Ego
- This shouldn’t be happening to me.
- I’m better than this.
- I’ll figure it out on my own.
The Hero Complex
- I have to stay strong for others.
- I can fix everything.
Avoidance
- I don’t want to face this.
- Maybe it’ll just go away on its own.
False Security
- This is the way things have always been.
- Tradition, vows, history—these are supposed to mean something, right?
We use these as shields, protecting ourselves from the present. But the truth is, we’re just stalling. We’re resisting reality instead of accepting it. And resistance is where the suffering comes from.
The present moment is the only thing we truly have. It’s the only thing we can control. It’s where life happens. If something is in front of you, face it. Feel it. Learn from it. Don’t let the moment slip by. Don’t hide from it. Embrace it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
As Marcus Aurelius said, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
The challenge in front of you isn’t something to avoid; it’s your path forward. The present moment is always trying to teach you, to guide you.
Are you paying attention?
Pema Chödrön reminds us, “Welcome the present moment as if you had invited it. It is all we ever have, so we might as well work with it rather than struggling against it.”
If you can do this, you can handle whatever life throws your way. Focus on the path ahead. Stay present, and let this moment be your teacher.
TL;DR Takeaways
1. Facing Life’s Challenges by Embracing the Present
Many of us avoid the discomfort of life’s hardships—loss, failure, and doubt—by distracting ourselves. But true growth comes from accepting and learning from the present moment, not running from it.
2. Common Barriers: Fear, Ego, and Avoidance
We often let fear, ego, and avoidance keep us from confronting reality. These internal defenses only stall our growth, making challenges harder in the long run.
3. The Present as a Path to Growth
By welcoming the present moment, no matter how difficult, we allow it to be our teacher. Each challenge becomes an opportunity to grow stronger, learn, and move forward with clarity.
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~ Steve
