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INVITATION TO INQUIRY

The Gift of Presence

Presence is the gift you give to yourself and it then naturally flows to everyone else in your life. It is one of those gifts that keeps on giving. There are many books written on how to live in the moment. There are also many practices to assist with becoming more present - yoga, meditation, mindfulness and others. The ironic thing is there is only Now. Remember the classic book by Ram Das was called Be Here Now” The truth is where else can you be.

In our fast- paced multitasking world we need more than ever to find ways to take a breath and experience directly this very moment. Additionally, in our culture, we are encouraged with electronics to be continuously externally connected. Our dependence on cell phones, blackberries, and computers has the appearance of keeping us connected to the world. While we are so focused on being connected to out there what happens to the connection in here to the self through which awareness flows? By believing I have to be always connected what am I resisting?

I have a friend who struggled with always planning. She was constantly checking her planner and her watch so she would not be late for the next thing on her list. How many of us do this and miss the sweetness of the moment? It is like planning the dinner while you’re eating lunch. She put being in the Now on her very long list. A few months later I noticed she was wearing a bright colored watch. She had colorfully decorated her watch face with the word Now. Whenever she habitually looked at her watch it reminded her it is now. How wonderful that she found a way to bring her awareness to a habit that previously made her unaware.

There is one practice that we all know that can help us become aware any time. It is inspiration. To inspire has two meanings, to have an exalting influence on and to breathe. Breath is something we do naturally 12 to 20 times a minute. It is essential to life. Actually bringing awareness to breath is a simple and effective way of bringing awareness to being present now.

Exercise: Try this for three to five minutes.

1. Find a place where you can be quiet and not engaged with others.
2. Bring your awareness to breathing in and allow your breath to naturally flow out.
3. Begin to feel the rhythm of your breath. Simply notice breathing in and out.
4. Notice that there may be external sounds or internal thoughts that take your awareness away from the breath and gently return to breathing in and breathing out.
5. Keep going until the time you set is up and notice how you feel.

Presence enriches in unseen ways. It gives you the freedom to appreciate and embrace whatever is happening at the time. Breath can be a gateway to having a more direct experience of presence in your life. Here is a little secret for the new year. Things get done one thing at a time and life is lived one breath at a time.

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