精美英文欣赏:活在当下

Learn to Live in the Present Moment

To a large degree，the measure of our peace of mind is determined¹ by how much we are able to live in the present moment．Irrespective of what happened yesterday or last year，and what may or may not happen tomorrow，the present moment is where you are －－always．

Without question，many of us have mastered the neurotic² art of spending much of our lives worrying about a variety of things －－all at once．We allow past problems and future concerns to dominate our present moments，so much so that we end up anxious，frustrated，depressed，and hopeless．On the flip³ side，we also postpone⁴ our gratification，our stated priorities，and our happiness，often convincing ourselves that ‘someday’ will be better than today．Unfortunately，the same mental dynamics⁵ that tell us to look toward the future will only repeat themselves so that ‘someday ’never actually arrives．John Lennon once said，‘Life is what's happening while we're busy making other plans．’When we're busy making ‘other plans’，our children are busy growing up，the people we love are moving away and dying，our bodies are getting out of shape，and our dreams are slipping away．In short，we miss out on life．

Many people live as if life were a dress rehearsal⁶ for some later date．It isn’t．In fact，no one has a guarantee that he or she will be here tomorrow．Now is the only time we have，and the only time that we have any control over．When our attention is in the present moment，we push fear from our minds．Fear is the concern over events that might happen in the future－－we won' t have enough money，our children will get into trouble，we will get old and die，whatever．

To combat fear，the best strategy is to learn to bring your attention back to the present．Mark Twain said，‘I have been through some terrible things in my life，some of which actually happened．I don't think I can say it any better．Practice keeping your attention on the here and now．Your efforts will pay great dividends⁷．

by Richard Carlson

学会生活在现实

我们内心是否平和在很大程度上是由我们是否能生活在现实之中所决定的．不管昨天或去年发生了什么，不管明天可能发生或不发生什么，现实才是你时时刻刻所在之处．

毫无疑问，我们很多人掌握了一种神经兮兮的艺术，即把生活中的大部分时间花在为种种事情担心忧虑上---而且常常是同时忧虑许多事情．我们听凭过去的麻烦和未来的担心控制我们此时此刻的生活，以致我们整日焦虑不安，萎靡不振，甚至沮丧绝望．而另一方面我们又推迟我们的满足感，推迟我们应优先考虑的事情，推迟我们的幸福感，常常说服自己“有朝一日”会比今天更好．不幸的是，如此告诫我们朝前看的大脑动力只能重复来重复去，以致“有朝一日”永远不会真正来临．约翰·列农曾经说过：“生活就是当我们忙于制定别的计划时发生的事．”当我们忙于制定种种“别的计划”时，我们的孩子在忙于长大，我们挚爱的人离去了甚至快去世了，我们的体型变样了，而我们的梦想也在悄然溜走了．一句话，我们错过了生活．

许多人的生活好像是某个未来日子的彩排．并非如此．事实上，没人能保证他或她明天肯定还活着．现在是我们所拥有的惟一时间，现在也是我们能控制的惟一时间．当我们将注意力放在此时此刻时，我们就将恐惧置于脑后．恐惧就是我们担忧某些事情会在未来发生---我们不会有足够的钱，我们的孩子会惹上麻烦，我们会变老，会死去，诸如此类．

若要克服恐惧心理，最佳策略便是学会将你的注意力拉回此时此刻．马克·吐温说过：“我经历过生活中一些可怕的事情，有些的确发生过．”

我想我说不出比这更具内涵的话．经常将注意力集中于此情此景、此时此刻，你的努力终会有丰厚的报偿．

1 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

2 neurotic   

adj.神经病的，神经过敏的；n.神经过敏者，神经病患者

参考例句：

• Nothing is more distracting than a neurotic boss. 没有什么比神经过敏的老板更恼人的了。
• There are also unpleasant brain effects such as anxiety and neurotic behaviour.也会对大脑产生不良影响，如焦虑和神经质的行为。

3 flip   

vt.快速翻动；轻抛；轻拍；n.轻抛；adj.轻浮的

参考例句：

• I had a quick flip through the book and it looked very interesting.我很快翻阅了一下那本书，看来似乎很有趣。
• Let's flip a coin to see who pays the bill.咱们来抛硬币决定谁付钱。

4 postpone   

v.延期，推迟

参考例句：

• I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
• She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。

5 dynamics   

n.力学，动力学，动力，原动力；动态

参考例句：

• In order to succeed,you must master complicated knowledge of dynamics.要取得胜利，你必须掌握很复杂的动力学知识。
• Dynamics is a discipline that cannot be mastered without extensive practice.动力学是一门不做大量习题就不能掌握的学科。

6 rehearsal   

n.排练，排演；练习

参考例句：

• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
• You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.排练可以让技巧更加纯熟。

7 dividends   

红利( dividend的名词复数 )； 股息； 被除数； （足球彩票的）彩金

参考例句：

• Nothing pays richer dividends than magnanimity. 没有什么比宽宏大量更能得到厚报。
• Their decision five years ago to computerise the company is now paying dividends. 五年前他们作出的使公司电脑化的决定现在正产生出效益。