The Power of Present Living: Let Go and Make a God Box!
Where are you spending most of your time—the past, present, or the future?
If you primarily focus on your past or your future, you become a ghost in your present. Living in the NOW is where your real power is. In fact, your brightest future and most peaceful past both hinge on your ability to stay in the present, where you’re connected to your intuition and the Divine.
We live in an age of distraction, future planning, and ruminating about the past. So many of us get caught in a cycle of beating ourselves up about the past or longing for something in the future. When we do quiet the buzzing in our minds, we often encounter media discussions about our economic future or some sort of scrutiny about a government decision from 10 years ago. Even the metaphysical community is wrapped up with what’s going to happen in 2012. As a culture, we’re almost allergic to the present!
I have to admit that I’ve had to work to focus on the present over the last few weeks. Over the years, I’ve become really good at staying in the now, but the past and future seemed to be taking up a few more of the pathways in my brain than I’d like. I’ve been meeting with different people about new career opportunities and have found myself looking to the future and thinking about the past with a little too much attachment.
What if it works out?
What if it doesn’t?
What if I did something wrong in my past and that prevents it from working it?
Somehow I just know these exact questions have run through your own mind about something in your life, such as a job, a relationship, or a move.
I talk extensively about present living in my new book, The Enchanted Map of You, which is coming out early next year. I also frequently counsel callers on my HayHouseRadio.com show about letting go of attachment. So, I was able to spot this tendency in myself pretty quickly and let go and let God.
If you’re pining for the past or getting overly attached to the future, you’re in a place I call the Ghostlands and losing your power to act in the now. In the Ghostlands, you become disconnected from the world around you and cut off from inspiration and intuition. The now is where you truly create your future. It’s the place where you’re fully connected to the world around you and to Spirit.
Exercise:
So, how can you let go of stress about the past or future and focus more on the now?
One of my favorite tools to help me stay in the present is a God Box. Even if you don’t feel you’re over focused on the past or future, I highly recommend that you create a God Box to just help you cultivate more peace and mindfulness. And, please note, when I call this a God Box, the word God isn’t meant to have a religious connotation. In this case, “God” represents whatever resonates most for you—a higher power, the universe, the All that Is, Spirit, etc.
First, get a box. You might find one and decorate it, or go out and buy a nice box that speaks to you. Just make sure you love whatever box you use.
Now, every day this week, write a note to God and put it in your box. Tell God what you’re worried about, beating yourself up about, or getting too attached to. Anything goes! Just get all the buzzing out of your mind and then turn it all over to the Universe. You might light a candle and read your note aloud before putting it in the box. Or, maybe play your favorite CD as you write the message each night. Make it a ritual.
As you put your note in the box, say the following aloud:
“Dear God. I’m turning it over to you. Take this burden from me. In your care let this be for the highest good of all. ”
Once you put the message in the box, you’ve turned it over to Spirit. Trust that Spirit is looking out for your highest good and will know how to handle whatever it is.
In addition to making a God Box, meditating and spending time in nature are both great ways to get out of your mind and more into present living. So be sure to take some time for both this week!
Please tell us about your God Box experience and ritual. And you might even put some photos of your new God Box on my Facebook fan page so we can all get creative ideas for making one.
In service and love,
Colette
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Love the idea of the God box. I’ve definitely been stuck being sad about the past and worrying too much about the future. And have to giggle at myself when I realize how useless this truly is….can’t change the past only learn from it and my future is in God’s hands; hearing my wishes and dreams and bringing what is best for me, all in divine right timing. Thank you and bright blessings, Colette!
Hi Colette
Speaking of letting go and let god!! I completed just last night my forgiveness letters to various people and especially myself. After completing this task I found myself thinking about stuff from the past, which again bought up some shame and gulit feelings for me.
To alliviate the feeling I just cried myself to sleep whilst forgiving myself once again, only to notice more crap popping up and so I’m thinking “Oh God when will this stop, how much more do I have to cry? my eyes are gonna look like red ripe tomatoes!, how on earth am I gonna explain this when I get up in the morning, blah, blah blah”. I then realised that beep beep beep goblin has raised his ugly lil head yet again!! Oh god this is never ending!!
So if I commit (a big thing for me comittment!!!) to writing two bug etchings (as I would call them) a night, that would keep me busy for the rest of my life.
Seriously though, this is a great suggestion. I stopped writing my journal and I should get back to that too!! My painting time is my own personal zone I love to visit when I dont want to face the logical side of life!! Scary thought!! My way of focusing in the present is repeating the word “Squirrel” it works for me anyway hahaha.
Thank you, for your inspiring ideas thoughts etc. I especially love the power thoughts. Do you put them in a special place on your site because I am so inspired when listening to your words of wisdom and would love to listen to them again when I feel the need.
Love and blessings
Arohanui
Tania
I love my God box…. Since I did mine it has been as if magic were inside this box… in fact… it is magical… I am sure… Thanks for the instructions.
Love
I created a God box, but I’m not sure it works. I’ve done a great job of letting go of the past — I do have bumps along the way. These days, I’m mostly in the future because the present is not what I want it to be.
I know how I want my present to look. I’ve heard many spiritual teachers say, “…think of your life as a blank canvas and paint upon it that which you desire.” I’ve done that — What’s taking so long? There it is — my hang up is time. Even though “time” may not exist all of us have obligations to pay at certain times, i.e, rent, mortgage, credit cards, car payments, utilities, car insurance, etc…along with other expenses that pop up. And, some of us wanted our desires to be manifested yesterday. Maybe I’ll put “letting go of my desires and my timetable” in my God box. I’ll see what happens…
Beautiful thought. I spend so much time everywhere but the present, I drive myself crazy…. I’m going to go look for a box tomorrow night when I have a free evening and the time to find something special…
Dear Colette ,
Thank you , thank you for this beautiful idea , when i was little i use to write letters to god that i never send and i guess it has helped me over the years and now i think that its a good idea to go back into it again.
Love Jeanique
DEAREST COLLETTE,
I REALLY NEEDED THIS TOPIC, IAM GOING THROUGH LEGAL ISSUES WITH MY EX,
AND I HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH OVER PAST AND HOW THIS WILL WORK OUT FOR ME.
SO BEING IN THE PRESENT IS NOT WHERE I HAVE BEEN. THANKS FOR ADVICE I HAVEN’T EVEN REQUESTED.
YOU FAN
MARY
Hi Collette,
Thanks so much for your inspiring article. I am at a place where I need to rediscover my business ideas. I have tossed ideas around in my head and keep coming up with a blank. I will purchase a God Box tomorrow and begin to place my ideas in this box and leave the rest to God. I know with my whole being that I have the answers inside of me, I just don’t seem to be able to find the one that best fits. Thanks again, Jenni
Started this about a month ago (heard it from Colette at some point in time and thought I would give it a try)…… One question is what do you do with the notes or the box when it is full? I started, then because that simple little issue bothered me (that I was going to fill it up and then what?) I began doing in my mind rather than physically because I have a small box
Then it fell by the way side. It was working until I stopped physically writing the notes…..box is special so I don’t want to stop (by burying or starting to use another), so don’t laugh…even though I’m chuckling as I write this!
Love….love….love
Melissa
I have done this for years. At the end of each year (New Year’s Eve), I open the box, review the notes and am truly amazed at the things that I worried about that proved to be non-issues AND at the way that God (the Universe works). Once I complete my review and my journaling as a result of the review, I burn the years notes and welcome the New Year.
Dear Colette,
Thank you for the advice about The God Box. I’m going to start one! I do have a hard time letting go of some of my past. I guess I do look a little into the future. Sometime…living in the present is just to full of depressing stuff…bills, not enough money…rrrrrr…kid problems…problems with family…and coworkers. Never ends…so I look to the future, tomorrow things will be better. But never happens!! So…maybe this is what I need!
Thanks Colette Big Hugs!
Colette
I love your idea of a God box! I don’t have a box as I do a book. I write to God in it! It helps me be open to his plans for me and has given me so much peace with in where only anxiety existed.
Susy
HI Collette,
I love My Beautiful God Box ! It So Works ! Every day I write
something and LET GO ! and BOOM BANG ! it happens. Thank you so much !
Yes I believe God really is Listening !!!
Hi Colette,
Thanks for the great idea. I’m having a challenging time staying in the present, because of the all the changes going on at the same time in my life.
I feel like I have no choice BUT to hand it all over to God, because these changes are so big I can’t deal with them myself alone.
As I try to keep grounded during all this change, I hope this will help me stay in the present as well.
Lots of love to you, and gratitude.
Kara
Hello Colette,
I by a strange chance came across your page this morning. This morning upon awakening, I lay in bed with thoughts and memories of the past haunting and distressing me. I came up with an idea of making a beautiful box, filling it with my heavy thoughts, and sending it off somehow afloat on the ocean or perhaps a fire ritual. Then, I went onto Facebook. I needed to write my profile, being a new user,and for my “musical interests” I simply wrote, “Whatever resonates”, for describing what music I like to listen to. These two simple words caused a link to a web page of yours where you spoke of a “God box”. I may be waffling abit, but, seeing the beautiful coincidence for myself, I just wanted to share it. Thanks, regards, Tracy
I am curious to know your thoughts on the follow up film to The Secret, “How Thoughts Become Things.” Is the Law of Attraction or Neuroscience really responsible for all the consequences in my life. seems pretty bold, considering we don’t even really know what the Law of Attraction is. Or is it simply my life is a result of real life efforts following the thoughts that I really value as worthwhile. A little confused about this?
[...] ounce of joy in our lives today. I even wrote about my own recent experience with attachment in my The Power of Present Living [...]
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