THE PRESENCE: will you receive today’s gift?

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift...
that is why it is called Present”
​Master Oogway in Kung Fu Panda

We are all blessed with the present, however many of us leave this ongoing gift unopened, missing out on valuable moments in our lives because we don't realize its impact.

Image by Spencer Wing from Pixabay

The Presence Present
​I admit, I often find myself mired in thought about: projects I’m working on, issues to resolve, how to coordinate my family’s schedules, my to-do list, how to do this or that better, a relationship challenge, and on and on. This is rather normal, of course– who isn’t dealing with these sorts of daily life situations? What isn’t ideal however is when these thoughts cause me to miss out on:

• my daughter sharing a personal story with me (-what was she saying?); 
• an opportunity to have open and present dialogue after an argument; 
• appreciating the many cool things about my space; or 
• time actively DO-ing the projects and resolutions that I endlessly plan to perfection.

In these moments, I’m thinking about something in the past or future and missing something extremely valuable in my present. My presence is not present.

When we live in the present, it simply means we’re not dwelling in the past or living for the future. We are not distracted or sitting in paralysis by past pains and future fears nor dwelling in grief or longing for what was or what could be. We are fully feeling (good or bad) and living IN this very moment. Fully present for our lives. This is the gift. 

While it’s vital to make space for processing past situations and planning for the future, the balance between these activities and living in presence is often way off-kilter. We rush through our days, either constantly chasing the next thing or paralyzed by indecision. This is because we're not anchored in the present moment. You know that person who constantly checks their phone (-maybe there’s something more interesting calling or happening elsewhere?) and meanwhile misses the sunset, or checks work emails while on vacation and loses the purpose and enjoyment of the trip? How about those times driving from point A to point B and not recalling exactly how you got there?

Do you experience this imbalance in your life? If so, how does it manifest, and how can we find the right balance?

The Gift of Presence (and its two power partners)
To be present, we must feel grounded. When we are grounded, our lives progress with more ease because we can be more aligned and self-aware from this space. 

When we are not grounded, life becomes complicated, stuck, discouraging as we are preoccupied with the past or future. We become disconnected, scattered, lost in thought, confused, and indecisive. This can lead to overwhelm and a downward spiral of emotions. Our consciousness retreats from the present moment and we go into autopilot. We are no longer rooted in our physical bodies nor aligned with our inner truth, our highest Self. We are out-of-balance and have lost sight of our gift of Presence.

We can elevate our ability to Be Present with the help of two power partners. Our Presence serves these partners as well offering us a three-point team to truly live into our gifts.

Power Partner #1: Our Practice
Our Practice helps us develop our capacity to be more present. How do we get grounded? Strengthening our first chakra, or root chakra (the energy center for safety, security and belonging). How do we clear our negative thought patterns and blocks? Mantras (specific chants or sounds) and breathwork (focused breathing exercises) can be powerful tools. How do we find the energy to help ourselves move through the complications we create? Expand our aura, strengthen circulatory and nervous systems, boost the immune system. When our Practice is established, we give ourselves the support we need to be grounded, in Presence, and in alignment with our true selves. Kundalini yoga offers these supports and is my practice of choice, along with teaching it for mastery. What does your Practice consist of?

Power Partner #2: Our Path
Our Path clears the way for more Presence. Gaining clarity on your path can help you live a healthy balance between thinking about the future, worrying about the past, and staying present. One of the most effective ways I have found to illuminate my path is tuning-in to my emotions to uncover my blocks and acknowledge my true desires. Especially if you have a tendency for perfectionism, it can feel uplifting to spend a lot of time planning and healing without ever going into action. With the help of Power Partner #1, you can more readily access your emotional guides to release what paralyzes you and heal at the same time. The clearer your Path becomes, the easier it gets to stay Present. Tuning-in to my emotions is a powerful part of my practice to gain clarity and presence. How clear is your Path?

Building Your Presence Muscle
Take a moment now to reflect on your own Presence:

• Think of a recent situation where you were not fully present. What were you thinking about that pulled you away from the present moment?
• How often do you find yourself feeling confused or overwhelmed? How could this be impacting your ability to be present? How could claiming your gift of presence help you out of confusion and overwhelm?

• What are some areas of your life where you feel stuck in the past or worried about the future? How can you use your path to find more balance?
• What activities or techniques help you feel more grounded and present? (e.g., meditation, spending time in nature)

Your PRESENCE is something that builds like a muscle;
    your Practice is the gym (or mat),
      your Path is your goals and motivation .
​Finding your right balance is supported by this trifecta of powerful partners. 

How is your Presence? May you accept and open this gift often and receive your many blessings.

With grace and gratitude,
Anna SachKiret

PS. a quick tip for you–  include in your practice a midday alarm to check-in on your presence daily. When the alarm rings, take up to 5 minutes to notice your 5 senses, one-by-one. What do you see right at that moment? What do you hear? Smell? Feel by touch? Taste? Take your time with it and savor each sensation.

PSS. hit reply and let me know how this landed for you! Do you feel your Presence is working for you?