The Now Effect Essay

As a Social work major, taking this class I have learned to appreciate life more and to start living in the now. As Elisha Goldstein says in The Now Effect, “ learning how to intentionally engage with the now isn’t just a promised pathway to an abstract enlightenment but is becoming a practical way to alleviate stress and pain, cultivate emotional freedom, and even create a stronger, healthier brain” (2012, pg. xii). Before taking this class, I constantly worried about everything from the weather, my job, my car, money, school, and mostly if I am going to find a job when I graduate. I now know that I have no control over certain things and should not allow these things to keep me from fulfilling my dreams. Taking this class has brought a new insight to how I work with the children at my job, but mostly how I am going to live my life from now on. I am stronger, because I am starting to let go of some of the pain from my past and start to grieve some of my losses. I am stronger

I will be able to empathize, because I know how it feels. I am going to challenge myself, dig deep into these feelings of loss, and take what I have learned from this class and live a happier life. Finally, the last thing I am going to reflect on from this class is being more mindful. I am going to pay more attention to what I am feeling, both inside my body and mind and on what is going on the outside. I am going to make a conscious effort to be in the now, without judging or criticizing what I find. I am going to be accept myself and slow down my chaotic life in order to live my life more fully. As a social worker it is important for me to practice mindfulness, it reduces stress and this is important when working with clients, because I cannot provide appropriate care if I am too