THE SWEETNESS OF PRESENCE

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“Nothing ever happened in the past
that can prevent you from being present now.”

--Eckhart Tolle, author of The New Earth.

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Spending the past few moments over morning coffee watching a tiny yellow finch dart in and out of a birdhouse, I embraced a contentment that comes with stillness. Peace overcame me on a day when I expected to be rushing to prepare for an open house. A few weeks earlier I sat for a full thirty minutes observing trees wrestling with the wind, entangling themselves in an intimate dance of connectedness.

The way nature interacts can teach us a lot, from becoming more playful and free like the tiny bird to learning to go with the flow as the trees modeled in swaying to the elements. For me, after centering in the calmness of nature, I am more aware of the sweetness of my essence and the gifts of whoever is standing in front of me. The external drivers which sometimes engage my ego are lifted, and who I am as part of the whole Universe is clearer. Feelings of grace overcome me, along with an exquisite gratitude for the opportunity to experience another moment of life.

This awareness can be amplified whenever I choose to be fully present. Accessing “presence” also helps immediately change past stories, conflicts, dramas, and wounds by knowing in this very moment, you get to begin again with a clean slate. With that knowledge, you can walk into any situation and choose to create a new story from this day forward. The chaotic office can become a joyful ambience or at least a stepping stone for creating your ideal work environment. The non-engaged, ex-spouse can change into your greatest teacher of discernment enabling you to clarify more of what you need in partnership. The rainy day can evolve into much needed downtime indoors to refuel your soul. The disagreement with a friend or colleague can provide a lesson in setting clearer boundaries.

By absorbing the lesson of the now, instead of the pain of the past, you create anew. Welcome new lessons of love, forgiveness, peace, joy, and calm. They, too, are available every moment of your life.

With awe,

Gail

Featured Article

A Garden of Possibilities

Like a garden in bloom, spring often awakens our souls to new life—from experiencing new love to watching a new Red Sox season. This spring, expand your own garden of possibilities by making a commitment to see your world through a different lens.

Instead of rehashing scenes from the past that no longer serve your highest good, choose today to instill one new behavior that could alter an outcome. This new choice could be as mundane as balancing your checkbook in order to create a healthier financial identity or as enlivening as taking dance lessons to increase the awareness of your body’s energy.

Or, you may opt to alter a way of interacting with others. Instead of taking charge, you may choose to follow. Rather than doing most of the talking in conversation, you may listen more. Accepting support or compliments instead of always giving out, or learning to embrace another’s more cautious nature versus your own risk-taking drive are other ways to open to new possibilities.

One of the most healing choices you can make is learning to reflectively respond instead of being quick to react, which requires some discipline. When triggered by an event, someone’s comments, or another person’s behavior, ask: How is this familiar to my past? Do I want to carry this same story forward? Typically, the more highly charged we get, the more likely the emotion has ties to an earlier wound or past conditioning. Choose in that moment to PAUSE, feel the feeling that is uncomfortable, and select a different outcome.

Another shift in expanding our world view can occur when we allow whatever happens to “be” as it is without any judgment of right or wrong. The “unfulfilling” date, the “unsuccessful” job interview, or the “disagreement” with a partner may at first seem disappointing. Later, we may find out these incidences served a higher purpose and brought us closer to something that is more nurturing to our souls.

We thrive in expansion. It is our soul’s purpose to grow. To open to more possibilities, allow life to impact you by PRACTICING living in the moment and welcoming the creation of new stories (and the thoughts and beliefs that create them).

There are new seeds in each of us that want to sprout. Give them space to grow.

BELIEF TIPS OF THE MONTH

Observe in the next few days how often you lose a sense of presence. When in conversation, are you truly listening to the other or are you focused on what you intend to say next? Watch children at play, or an artist creating a new sketch, or a musician performing to see how they are “in the moment.”

Make a commitment to practice being in the moment for several seconds at a time throughout the day. When eating, for example, just observe what the food tastes like or how long it takes to chew. Be present to the act of eating. When walking, notice your footsteps, feel your legs moving, be in your body. When quiet, focus on what your heart feels versus what your head thinks. Let the feelings surface and simply observe them.

Here are some beliefs that may help you become more present to yourself:

1. I allow myself to be still.
2. I allow myself to observe life, particularly nature.
3. I allow myself to try new actions or explore new ways of being that expand my sense of self.
4. I allow myself to see life as moments.
5. I allow the wisdom of my soul to guide me, not external events.
   

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