As human beings, our mind is full of thoughts and we don’t always realize that we spend a lot of time with thoughts that are mere stories - they are not true. I recall the serenity prayer from Stoic Philosophy, which goes like this
“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the strength to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference”. That wisdom is something that has felt worth striving for. We worry about things we cannot control and we are passive when faced with things we could control. By practising mindfulness you can better at distinguishing between what is within the zone of influence / control and what is not.
If you look at the ocean you notice that the surface of the ocean has a lot of activity - waves, foam, ripples due to the wind. The deeper below the surface you go, the calmer it becomes. Similarly inside each one of us is a stillness that is unperturbed by passing events and is full of wisdom. Mindful presence, to me, has been about connecting with that stillness.
To practice mindful presence, try this guided meditation by Tara Brach, Phd :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZPgWSyYOlY
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Thank you for listening,
much metta,
Dr G