On being present.

Being present is an integral part of practicing mindfulness and living with intention. With all the things happening in the world around us, I'm finding that it’s quite challenging and I don't have the bandwidth to live outside of the present moment. Reminiscing on the past typically results in depression and grieving parts of my past life. On the reverse side, thinking about the future seems to create anxiety and worry. The only time and place I have is the present moment; the here and now.

Here are some useful tricks I have implemented to keep myself present when my mind starts to spiral in all of the directions.

1. Take some deep breaths: Breathe with your diaphragm, filling up the belly, rib cage and chest. Maybe even consider retaining the breath at the top and bottom, truly present for the pause. Mindful breathing automatically slows down the nervous system and brings you back to the present moment. 

2. Identify the moment/sensations: Some questions to ask yourself could be .... Where am I? What do I see? What do I smell? How do I feel? What is the temperature? Checking in with your environment and how you are experiencing it is a sure way to bring you back to the now. 

3. Celebrate tiny joys: Whether it's pausing in the moment as you enjoy a delicious cup of tea or a gratitude list at the end of the day… taking inventory of all the tiny gifts life has offered will result in being more present.

Of course, this is never a one-size-fits all sort of thing, and each day might require a different tactic, but these are some useful tools that have helped me. The real practice lies in being present for even the challenging and uncomfortable moments, not only the ones that bring joy and feel good. This is what allows us to be present for the human experience in its entirety.

In love, light and with gratitude,

Nicole