July Theme - PRESENCE

This month, a simple reminder to be more present, cultivate greater awareness of the present moment in everything we do, wherever we are and with whomever we may be sharing space.

If you just caught yourself re-living the past, fixating on the future, or bouncing from one random thought to another: Congratulations — You just took the first significant step to being present. Many times we don’t catch ourselves and get swept away. Sometimes, we want to get swept away, which is fine if it’s by choice and you can also ground yourself when you need to.

There are many ways that we can bring ourselves out of the mind stream and back to presence, but when new to this practice, common tips like breath awareness or body awareness can feel grueling and unrewarding. In time, however, we notice a deep shift in our perception of the world and that colors just about everything that we do.

Next time you’re engaged in a mundane task let those actions be the superstar of the moment and be fully present. If you’re chatting with someone, don’t just listen to their words, take in their entire presence. If you’re in a car waiting for the light to change, engage your senses and notice your surroundings. If you happen to have a few minutes of alone time, become aware of your breath and see where this awareness takes you. These are simple acts that can bring about a flood of insight when done with consistency, or even if only for the month of July.