The Power of Presence

 

Pause to Ponder

For July and August, instead of writing full-length blogs, I’ll be sharing short “Pause to Ponder” posts—offering you something I’ve found lovely, intriguing or inspiring to touch your heart or get you thinking. Happy summering!

 

 

“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present moment. This is the beginning and the end of spiritual practice. Only in this moment can we discover that which is timeless. Only here can we find the love that we seek. Love in the past is simply memory, and love in the future is fantasy. Only in the reality of the present can we love, can we awaken, can we find peace and understanding and connection with ourselves and the world.”

—Jack Kornfield, from A Path with Heart: A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life

“All negativity is caused by an accumulation of psychological time and denial of the present. Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry—all forms of fear—are caused by too much future, and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non-forgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.”

—Eckhart Tolle, from The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

 

Take a Moment Micro-Meditation

 

Tiny pauses to be right here, right now can have big results. Our Take a Moment series of micro-meditations—all under two minutes long—make taking mindful pauses as easy as possible. We invite you to "Take a Moment" to find the calm that is always within you.