Recently I’ve been moved by practising presence. It mostly happens for seconds everyday.

Little moments of honesty, captured consciousness of awe. When I let myself notice. When I let myself feel. How often do we let ourselves experience the reality around us? Truly and fully? I can often be lost in a fantastic future or mourning a picturesque past but what I’ve learned is that there is nothing more real than the present moment.

Mindfulness and practising presence are used interchangeably in this post. There are countless benefits to being present to your life. Mindfulness with self-compassion supports the re-wiring of your brain and fosters the development of neural pathways of calm, clarity and joy. Vast amounts of research has highlighted the psychological, physical and cognitive benefits of mindfulness, though it is also emphasised that the ‘how’ of mindfulness is important.

Mindfulness practise coupled with self-compassion unlocks avenues of healing and transformation. Intention, attention and attitude create the bedrock for this cognitive environment to initiate supportive changes in your life.

There are many myths regarding mindfulness such as your mind shouldn’t wander, that you lose your passions and drive or that we don’t have the time for mindfulness practise. Mindfulness isn’t a silent mind, all minds wander, it’s about creating the space to see the mind as a tool to understand the human experience. It also doesn’t rid you of time, through practise you increase your concentration and attention, making less mistakes and saving you time. It doesn’t make you a guru of non-attachment and eliminate your desires and passions, it creates the potential for you to have a deeper connection with your passions, and as the observer of your life you can make choices towards your goals.

Learning to be mindful and present isn’t always easy. Let’s explore what it feels like to develop your capacity to be in the now.

Recommended Reading

Shapiro, S. (2020). Good morning, I love you: Mindfulness + Self-Compassion Practices to Rewire You Brain for Calm, Clarity + Joy. Boulder, Colorado, Sounds True.