Weekly newsletter
I. Prompts for motivation
What does consciousness mean to you? Are you good at acknowledging your thoughts without reacting, or is it difficult for you to avoid getting pulled into an incessant stream of thought?
Do you practice awareness in the moment by noticing the space between the mental clutter of your mind? In what kinds of activities do you find yourself fully immersed in the experience in which you are most aware that you are aware?
II. Thoughts for intention
One of the hardest truths to come to terms with is the undeniable reality that you are not your mind; you are the observer of it. The mind is a machine, one that can be an invaluable tool when you know how to use it well and when to put it down. Otherwise, it is possible to become accustomed to the constant background script in our heads, resembling a noisy mental static that we can unfortunately forget to turn off. Consequently, we might not even realize how much our everyday experiences are distorted by this unconscious filter through which we interact with the world.
It’s important to be in the present moment because it’s the source of so many essential things we need for self-direction. Be it inspiration, enthusiasm, gratitude, or patience, we cannot access these invaluable gifts without tapping into the very place they can only exist. Ultimately, it’s a vital foundation for staying grounded in reality with both meaning and purpose in mind.
III. Ideas for preparation
There are many ways to practice presence, but one that I find extremely effective is using our breath as an anchor. This is a great resource to lean into as it is always available, no matter the time and place. Even in difficult moments of stress and tension, practicing breathing exercises is a powerful way to transform our state of mind and slow it down. Of course, there are plenty of activities that incorporate breathwork into a regular practice, such as yoga, tai chi, meditation, and so much more.
Another way to gain insight into how to be in the present moment is by reading about the topic itself. Take a deep dive into the subject and learn what others have to say on it. Personally, I find the idea fascinating as it is undoubtedly a universal theme that many have covered in a range of books throughout our history as a species. Clearly, its significance cannot be underestimated since its relevance has withstood the test of time.
IV. Quotes for inspiration
“We never keep to the present. We recall the past; we anticipate the future as if were found it too slow in coming and were trying to hurry it up, or we recall the past as if to stay it’s too rapid flight. We are so unwise that we wander about in times that do not belong to us, and do not think of the only one that does; so vain that we dream of times that are not and blindly flee the only one that is. The fact is the present usually hurts. We thrust it out of sight because it distresses us, and if we find it enjoyable, we are sorry to see it slip away. We try to give it the support of the future, and think how we are going to arrange things over which we have no control for a time we can never be sure of reaching.”
― Blaise Pascal, Human Happiness
“In a word, the Future is, of all things, the thing least like eternity. It is the most completely temporal part of time—for the Past is frozen and no longer flows, and the Present is all lit up with eternal rays.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
