A Present of Presence
Sarah McLean is the author of bestseller ‘Soul-Centred: Transform Your Life in 8 Weeks with Meditation’ and the director of the McLean Meditation Institute.
“With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now.” That was what American author and transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson suggested. Sounds good, living in the now. But how can we keep our focus on the here and now when it’s the mind’s habit to wander?
Here are three present moment awareness practices to create a more mindful life.
1. While washing your hands, give your attention to all of your senses. Notice the way you stand, listen to the sound of the water, feel the sensations of the water on your hands, smell the scent of the soap, and notice the way your hands move with the texture of the soap on your hands.
2. While walking up or down a flight of stairs, pay attention to each movement of each step, feel how your body balances and moves, notice your breath, and listen to the sounds your body makes. Be totally present with the activity.
3. Going for a drive? Get into your car and close the door, and before you turn the car on, give yourself a minute to sit in silence. You can close your eyes. Feel your body, feel the flow of your breath. Notice the temperature of the seat, and the air around you. Turn your attention to the one who is having the experience and become aware of your own presence.. Transitions like this are a good time to stop and become more present with yourself and the moment in which you live.
