We’ve all been through a lot—both together and alone—and as the long, warm days of summer turn the corner toward autumn, there’s a little more darkness each night and a cooler nip to the air. It’s like the tilt of the Earth is sending a reminder: that each of us can be the light in the darkness (and that on the other side of that darkness is light).
Many take this time of year to look back (poring over a summer’s worth of photos, anyone?) or look ahead (rushing into a new term, a new routine, a new vision for what we want to achieve). Here’s an invitation to just be here. Right here, right now, in this moment.
It’s like the tilt of the Earth is sending a reminder: that each of us can be the light in the darkness (and that on the other side of that darkness is light).
Some of these moments will bring great peace. Others may leave us in pieces. The more we can bring our focus and presence to these moments, the more skilled we become at kindness, compassion—for ourselves and others—and finding joy, and the more we can surf the changes of life with ease. It all starts with being present, here and now.
3 Mindful Practices to Feel Present—and Find Your Presence
1. Bring your whole heart to the moment.
“Joy has its roots in wholehearted appreciative attention,” writes Willem Kuyken. “As you go about your day, bring your attention to seeing, touching, and listening wholeheartedly—mindful of how you are touching and being touched by the world. Take moments to pause.” There are just two steps in this practice, so you can use it anytime you need it.
Deepen Your Practice: Unhook from Negativity and Savor Joy
2. Find your foundation in the breath.
When we face stress, it can be tempting to zone out, ruminate on the past, or plan the future. Give yourself—and the mindful kids in your life— the gift of this moment, with a basic breathing practice to anchor you in the simplicity of the present. J.G. Larochette shares a catchy rhyme to help you feel present, calm, and clear all day long: “Repeat to yourself, “I’ve got my feet on the floor, I’ve got my spine in a line, I’ve got my hands in my lap, I’ve got my heart to the sky.”
Deepen Your practice: A Meditation to Breathe Out Love
3. Savor what comes.
It’s all going to come anyway—the good and the bad, the highs and the lows. During his week-long savoring practice, founding editor Barry Boyce writes, “What I was prepared for was taking time to really enjoy things, in the present moment. What I wasn’t prepared for was how much it would challenge underlying attitudes and assumptions.” It’s an invitation to be with the moments as they come and savor them, no matter their flavor.
Deepen Your Practice: Gratitude Practice: Savor the Moment by Tapping In to Your Senses
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