The Symbol of the Cross: Finding the Present Moment

Life can feel like a constant tug-of-war—between the weight of the past and the worries of the future. But what if I told you that peace, clarity, and connection to something bigger are always available to you? All you have to do is be here, now.
To understand this, let’s reflect on the symbol of the cross, not in a strictly religious sense, but as a universal representation of life, time, and presence.

The Horizontal Line: The Human Condition

Imagine a simple horizontal line.

• The left side represents the past—the regrets, memories, and thoughts of what “should have been.” Spending too much time here often brings feelings of depression or sadness.
• The right side represents the future—the unknown, the plans, and worries about what “might happen.” Here lies anxiety, as we try to control something that doesn’t exist yet.

We often live our lives bouncing between these two ends of the line. Replaying old conversations, rethinking choices, worrying about tomorrow. But neither of these places—past or future—can offer us peace.

So where does peace live?

The Center: The Present Moment

The center of the cross—the place where the horizontal and vertical lines meet—represents the present moment, the Now.

Eckhart Tolle calls the present moment the only true reality. Everything outside of it—the past and future—exists only in your mind. Right here, right now, is where life is actually happening. It’s the moment where your breath moves in and out, where the wind touches your skin, where you simply exist.

When you allow yourself to be in the Now, you free yourself from the weight of the past and the fear of the future. There’s nothing to overthink or fix, because the present moment is already complete.

The Vertical Line: Connection with the Universe

Now imagine a vertical line running up and down through the center of the horizontal line. This vertical line symbolizes our connection to something greater—the energy of the universe, life itself.

The more time you spend in the present moment, the closer you come to this universal energy. Here, you’re not just a person lost in thoughts; you’re part of something vast, timeless, and eternal. Alan Watts once said, “You are the universe experiencing itself.” In the Now, you can feel that truth.

Why It Matters

Think about the moments when you feel most alive—when you’re watching the sunset, laughing with friends, or lost in a creative flow. In those moments, you’re not in the past or the future. You’re fully present. And that’s where peace is.

• The past holds no power over you unless you bring it into the Now.
• The future cannot hurt you unless you invite it into this moment.

Every time you find yourself overthinking or feeling anxious, return to the center. Take a breath. Notice the life around you. This moment—right here, right now—is where everything meets.

Living in the Now

The cross reminds us of a simple truth:

• The horizontal line is where our human struggles play out.
• The vertical line leads us upward, connecting us to life, love, and peace.
• The center—where the two lines meet—is where we find freedom.

The more time you spend in the present, the clearer your mind becomes. You let go of the clutter, the noise, the endless thoughts. You feel the universe instead of just thinking about it.

So, the next time you find yourself lost in the past or worrying about the future, remember: everything you need is already here, in the Now. Breathe, and come back to the center.

Drugs and Alcohol

To quote Homer Simpson “To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems”.

The solution he is referring to is that along with other mind altering drugs, it stops the thinking part of the human and that is what gives a temporary happiness.

When you become aware of your thoughts, you’ll not need any substances to have a natural happiness

Breaking the Cycle: Taking Control of Your Thoughts and Emotions

I want to help others to “awaken” to the craziness that the human thought process does. I honestly believe that this should be thought in schools. Other research tells me that over 90% of people aren’t aware that they can live a peaceful life instead of choosing anger or playing the victim card like I did.

I strongly believe that if you can be aware/control your thoughts, then life becomes so much better.

Thoughts cause emotions, (e.g. anger) emotions cause different chemicals to be released (e.g. adrenaline), that causes different feelings (e.g. tension/ stress) this then creates more emotions and then it snowballs until you find something else to start the same process from again.

There are tactics you can use to limit the thoughts and they boil down to simply becoming aware and observing the situation and asking yourself questions like “is this a problem right now” and you’ll find that over 90% of the time, you’ll be giving your energy and thoughts to a situation that you have no control over the outcome. It’s like you’re shining a light on the energy that’s taken control of your mind and this allows you to take back control. It’s like you’re an arsonist and the head of the fire department at the same time.