Reflections

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  1. beata

    Today – my cat <3

    1 week ago
  2. O.Christina

    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.

    1 week ago
  3. Robin Ann

    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.

    1 week ago
  4. Don Jones

    Are we present in the ‘moment’ or just fully aware or conscious to the unfolding now and now and now … ?

    1 week ago
  5. Charlie T

    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.

    1 week ago
  6. pkr

    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.

    1 week ago
  7. Barb C

    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.

    1 week ago
    1. Don Jones

      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.

      1 week ago
  8. Ngoc Nguyen

    I can plan for something that I want to happen. However, I can never be sure that it will happen one hundred percent.

    1 week ago
  9. sunnypatti

    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 πŸ™‚

    1 week ago
  10. Yram

    I like to think of the words slow, and soft.

    1 week ago
  11. Carol

    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/

    1 week ago
    1. Dolores Kazanjian

      Love Richard Rohr. We’ve been to almost all of his Conspire conferences in Albequerque. Thanks for the reminder; I’ll check it out.

      1 week ago
    2. Charlie T

      Thanks to you, Carol, I too, read
      Richard Rohr’s daily meditation. πŸ™

      1 week ago
    3. S
      Ana Maria

      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.

      1 week ago
    4. Yram

      I am a fan of RR, too.

      1 week ago
  12. Mary Mantei

    When I am in touch with my breath, everything slows down. Then, I become more present.

    1 week ago
  13. Avril

    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 lifeβ€”the pleasant and the unpleasant. I call it my β€œpractice 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.

    1 week ago
    1. Mary Mantei

      Such intention, Avril. Blessings on your journey.

      1 week ago
      1. Avril

        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.

        1 week ago
  14. Antoinette

    Praying 🀲

    1 week ago
  15. Michele

    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!

    1 week ago
    1. Yram

      May happiness 😊 spread like the seeds of a dandelion.

      1 week ago
    2. Avril

      Happy International Day of Happiness

      1 week ago
    3. Joseph McCann

      And a happy day to you Michele!

      1 week ago
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