During a weekend recently three big challenges came up for me and and I used one of my favorite mantras over and over again, “As Is, I’m Here.” Saying “As Is” reminds you of the willingness to allow yourself to be exactly as you are in this moment. It invites you to let go of struggling with whatever is (your usual mode), so you can move into the place of healing that comes from allowing yourself to be exactly as you are. “I’m Here” reminds you to be keenly attentive to what is, in a way that invites your heart to be open to the parts of you that are asking to be seen. Remember, attention heals.
It began on Friday night as I was thinking about my son who recently completed aggressive chemotherapy treatments and was getting ready for surgery to remove the tumors in his lungs. I suddenly was filled with sadness and then I was caught in fear. It did not take me long, however, to realize that my body was tightening because I was in reaction, so I called a good friend and she gave me the gift of listening. The scared one inside of me calmed down because she just needed to be heard. Then the resistance and reaction loosened, and I was back in the place where I could hold the space for my son as he continues on his journey. “As Is, I’m Here.”
On Saturday, I woke up to find that my septic line had backed up into my bathtub. Not pleasant! All day long there were lots of men with noisy machines working on the system, trying to get it unblocked and then rebuilt. I also found out that my insurance would not cover the cost of this major repair. “As Is, I’m Here.” Although my storyteller wanted it to be different than what it was, I didn’t follow the stories and could be with what was unfolding. Then I woke up Sunday morning and had the 24-hour flu. Once again, “As Is, I’m Here.” I didn’t leave myself by reacting when I most needed myself.
Why are these four little words, “As Is, I’m Here,” so powerful? “As Is” helps you to stay open to what is happening. “I’m Here” is about responding rather than reacting to this wild and crazy dance of life. It is about being with what is happening rather than always trying to fix, change, get rid of, or rise above it. When you are faced with challenges, saying this mantra can remind you that you have the choice to react or respond. Your reactive ego says, “Oh My God, I don’t like this experience and I want it to go away.” This just creates more struggle. Your conscious self says “This is what life is offering. I can stay open to it. I can experience what I am experiencing and trust that life is giving me these experiences for my awakening.” Or, as Eckhart Tolle says, “Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at the moment.”
On Friday night, I reacted. On Saturday and Sunday, I responded and my heart opened. This is the power of the mantra, “As Is, I’m Here.” I invite you to try it, trusting that Life knows what it is doing.
