Just listened to a video of Thich Nhat Hanh, “surrender yourself to the present moment”, where he suggests to use the Gatha “i have arrived, i am home” when distracted.
Another one offered by him is
“i wake up and smile
24 hours are ahead of me
i vow to live every moment fully aware
and to look at all beings with the eyes of compassion.
When I feel overly anxious and not in the moment I practice box breathing. I try to find a quiet place, close my eyes and try to
think of a happy place. I also try to go for a walk to clear my head.
What helps me to remember to be
present? It’s a constant coming back.
It’s catching myself re living the past.
It’s taking a breath and exhaling. It’s
living life like a meditation, always
coming back to the present moment
and to my senses. Hopefully, without
Judgment.
Sometimes I literally have to tell myself to stop & stay in the present moment, recalibrate myself if you will. Also my breath guides me back into the present moment. Staying with the breath is so grounding.
When I’m working, i have a three-sided rock on my desk on which I inked the words INHALE EXHALE BREATHE. I pick it up and turn it in my hands occasionally, or hold another smooth stone. At times when I’m not at my desk I think of the rock and take a deep breath, and then another. Becoming aware of tension somewhere in my body reminds me to relax and breathe.
Any time of year being outside reminds me to be present as I enjoy the air, the scents, birdcalls, the changing seasons and plant life.
In an ancient tradition, the name Yahweh (the name of God) was gently whispered … ‘Yah’ on the inhale and ‘weh’ on the exhale. The very breath of life. The ruach, the gentle breath or spirit of this unfolding.
Breath practice. I can always recenter and be here now when I stop an focus on my breath. If I am in particular need of grounding, I include some words with the breath like “I am breathing in; I am breathing out,” or “Inhale peace; exhale love.” Stuff like that 🙂
My son’s weekly visits always help me to remember the importance of being grateful and being present to the moment because that is where he always lives and does so with heaps of gratitude and a ton of wisdom. His life has not been an easy life both physically and emotionally. Loss entered his world early but today’s quote from from Rebecca Solnit describes his perspective on life beautifully: “To be hopeful means to be uncertain about the future, to be tender toward possibilities, to be dedicated to change all the way down to the bottom of your heart.” I would modify one phrase in the quote: ‘my son is willing to change all the way down to the bottom of his heart.’
I read Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation before I read today’s question and it definitely addresses the importance of the willingness to be present moment to moment. Here’s the link: https://cac.org/daily-meditations/alive-for-a-reason/
Thank you Karol! Your son sounds like a wonderful gift fromt he universe. Blessings to both of you. I too love to read Richard Rohr’s daily meditations. It gives me hope and centering. Between this site and theirs I can begin my day with hope and joy. Thank you for sharing the link for others to find him and his wisdom.
Over the last few years, I have curated a lovely toolbox of practices for gaining present-moment awareness. First, when I start and end my day with gratefulness, prayer, and meditation, I increase my bandwidth for all of life—the pleasant and the unpleasant. I call it my “practice sandwich”. As mentioned below, I use diaphragmatic breathing when I have emergent distress. I focus on my heart center and reflect on my true nature, which is not the situation I find myself in.
I also have a mantra. I am working with a particular long mantra practice dedicated to my relationship with my family. I want to send some healing energy to old scars and new wounds. Lately, the mantra has been arising spontaneously. Yesterday, during a stressful time with my teenager, I heard it inside and followed it to my heart. When the mantra came forward, I was instantly fortified and grounded.
I am trying. Sometimes it two steps forward and one back. But, I a really trying. When the world catches up, it’s really easy to see how someone could renounce it all and become a monk.
What helps me remember to be present in the moment is sometimes actually saying in my head ‘focus on the present’.
Happy International Day of Happiness everyone!
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Just listened to a video of Thich Nhat Hanh, “surrender yourself to the present moment”, where he suggests to use the Gatha “i have arrived, i am home” when distracted.
Another one offered by him is
“i wake up and smile
24 hours are ahead of me
i vow to live every moment fully aware
and to look at all beings with the eyes of compassion.
When I feel overly anxious and not in the moment I practice box breathing. I try to find a quiet place, close my eyes and try to
think of a happy place. I also try to go for a walk to clear my head.
Are we present in the ‘moment’ or just fully aware or conscious to the unfolding now and now and now … ?
What helps me to remember to be
present? It’s a constant coming back.
It’s catching myself re living the past.
It’s taking a breath and exhaling. It’s
living life like a meditation, always
coming back to the present moment
and to my senses. Hopefully, without
Judgment.
Sometimes I literally have to tell myself to stop & stay in the present moment, recalibrate myself if you will. Also my breath guides me back into the present moment. Staying with the breath is so grounding.
When I’m working, i have a three-sided rock on my desk on which I inked the words INHALE EXHALE BREATHE. I pick it up and turn it in my hands occasionally, or hold another smooth stone. At times when I’m not at my desk I think of the rock and take a deep breath, and then another. Becoming aware of tension somewhere in my body reminds me to relax and breathe.
Any time of year being outside reminds me to be present as I enjoy the air, the scents, birdcalls, the changing seasons and plant life.
In an ancient tradition, the name Yahweh (the name of God) was gently whispered … ‘Yah’ on the inhale and ‘weh’ on the exhale. The very breath of life. The ruach, the gentle breath or spirit of this unfolding.
I can plan for something that I want to happen. However, I can never be sure that it will happen one hundred percent.
Breath practice. I can always recenter and be here now when I stop an focus on my breath. If I am in particular need of grounding, I include some words with the breath like “I am breathing in; I am breathing out,” or “Inhale peace; exhale love.” Stuff like that 🙂
I like to think of the words slow, and soft.
My son’s weekly visits always help me to remember the importance of being grateful and being present to the moment because that is where he always lives and does so with heaps of gratitude and a ton of wisdom. His life has not been an easy life both physically and emotionally. Loss entered his world early but today’s quote from from Rebecca Solnit describes his perspective on life beautifully: “To be hopeful means to be uncertain about the future, to be tender toward possibilities, to be dedicated to change all the way down to the bottom of your heart.” I would modify one phrase in the quote: ‘my son is willing to change all the way down to the bottom of his heart.’
I read Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation before I read today’s question and it definitely addresses the importance of the willingness to be present moment to moment. Here’s the link: https://cac.org/daily-meditations/alive-for-a-reason/
Love Richard Rohr. We’ve been to almost all of his Conspire conferences in Albequerque. Thanks for the reminder; I’ll check it out.
Thanks to you, Carol, I too, read
Richard Rohr’s daily meditation. 🙏
Thank you Karol! Your son sounds like a wonderful gift fromt he universe. Blessings to both of you. I too love to read Richard Rohr’s daily meditations. It gives me hope and centering. Between this site and theirs I can begin my day with hope and joy. Thank you for sharing the link for others to find him and his wisdom.
I am a fan of RR, too.
When I am in touch with my breath, everything slows down. Then, I become more present.
Over the last few years, I have curated a lovely toolbox of practices for gaining present-moment awareness. First, when I start and end my day with gratefulness, prayer, and meditation, I increase my bandwidth for all of life—the pleasant and the unpleasant. I call it my “practice sandwich”. As mentioned below, I use diaphragmatic breathing when I have emergent distress. I focus on my heart center and reflect on my true nature, which is not the situation I find myself in.
I also have a mantra. I am working with a particular long mantra practice dedicated to my relationship with my family. I want to send some healing energy to old scars and new wounds. Lately, the mantra has been arising spontaneously. Yesterday, during a stressful time with my teenager, I heard it inside and followed it to my heart. When the mantra came forward, I was instantly fortified and grounded.
Such intention, Avril. Blessings on your journey.
I am trying. Sometimes it two steps forward and one back. But, I a really trying. When the world catches up, it’s really easy to see how someone could renounce it all and become a monk.
Praying 🤲
What helps me remember to be present in the moment is sometimes actually saying in my head ‘focus on the present’.
Happy International Day of Happiness everyone!
May happiness 😊 spread like the seeds of a dandelion.
Happy International Day of Happiness
And a happy day to you Michele!