What is ‘isness’? In simple terms, ‘isness’ is existence.

At the heart of isness is the art of living in the present moment. Living in the ‘now’ is one of the secrets to living authentically.

Are you living your life or thinking your life?

Alan Watts, the philosopher, writer and entertainer known for his interpretation of Eastern philosophy, said,

Watts reminds us to think less and embrace this reality as a unique experience. Because life is an experience, not just a concept and something to think your way through. Right?

Are you taking time to savour precious moments? Are you absorbing your experience with all your senses—seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, resonating? Or are you thinking your way though life? Do you think that you think too much?

Less resistance means less stress

Spiritual leader, Eckhart Tolle, known for his teachings on mindfulness and presence, emphasises the transformative power of embracing "now." Tolle is quoted to have said,

With acceptance we experience contentment. You can’t argue with what is. Well, you can, but if you do, Tolle says you will experience an emotional/mental suffering.

Acceptance doesn’t mean, you can’t accept things as they are without wanting something different. We can accept the now and want something different for our future—the ‘contrast’ can be a force of motivation. The key is to balance experiencing the very moment you are in with acceptance, as it is, with a sense of allowing, without an inner turmoil of thinking things should be different at that moment. …Get it?

Tolle reminds us to accept life as it is, and to accept our feelings as they arise, which is sometimes easier said than done.

Feeling emotion is a natural and healthy thing to do

Many of us are not taught that it’s not ok to feel our feelings. But the truth is when we do allow ourselves to feel our emotions, they can pass through us like a natural wave of energy, rather than bottle up inside us like a pressure valve, exploding uncontrolled any moment.

Get in touch Authentic State Coaching if you would like to learn how to safely feel and move through your emotions.

The isness of being your authentic self

Living an authentic life is inseparable from the concept of isness. When you fully embrace your genuine self and honour your unique journey, then you're swimming in the lush. calm sea of isness.

Isness is about accepting all your quirks, your talents, and your flaws with open, accepting and forgiving arms.

Acceptance is key. Acceptance of what is, and who and where you are. In knowing who we are, we need to get honest with ourselves.

In the words of spiritual teacher Ram Dass,

Here we are reminded to take time to be still, to be able to hear our truth. Our bodies and spirit speak to us, not only our mind. Agree?

Wayne Dyer, the self-help author and motivational speaker, said

I believe that this is our most authentic state—when we are present and alert to the moment, rather than anxious about the future, or weighed down from the past.  In these moments, we are most switched on to our personal power.

The problem can be that most of us struggle to be present in the moment. This is because we carry the baggage or learnt or inherited pains and hurts of the past. Also, many of us haven't learned how to quieten the wild, looping mind or how to calm the restless, needy body. 

Without doing the work and learning to honour our feelings, calm the mind, shift past hurts and be still amongst the chaos, then living in the moment can be a struggle or not ever experiencing in a lifetime.

Success and isness

Mind-body healer and author, Deepak Chopra, might agree that the path to success is paved with isness. 

Chopra said,

In other words, let go, and life unfolds. Again, easier said than done right? Letting go takes tools, and practice, and often therapy or coaching. I’m a firm believer in we all must find the right path and support for ourselves. Life is not one size fits all.

Isness and the arts

The arts embrace living in the moment, with isness playing a vibrant and essential role in the life of the artist. 

Imagine chatting with Pablo Picasso, sipping on espresso in an avant-garde café in Barcelona or Paris. He'd remind you that isness is the vibrant core of artistic success.

Picasso said

Picasso knew the value of living in the moment, just as children do. He embraced the spontaneity and curiosity of a child—this is where magic and truth can be found.

In the grand tapestry of life, isness is the vibrant thread that weaves success and authenticity together.  Spiritual leaders and art masters remind us that the key to success isn't a distant treasure to chase; it's a joyful embrace of the present moment. 

So, let's raise our cups to the isness, for it's in this very moment that the canvas of success and authenticity is painted, one stroke at a time. 

Sasha x

Reach out if you would like to learn how to connect more authentically with the present moment, without limiting beliefs, emotions baggage or stress.

Sasha at Authentic State Coaching works with individuals across the world online via Zoom. Authentic State Coaching is based on the Central Coast, NSW north of Sydney, Australia.