Tag: happiness

Embracing Presence: A Path to Mindfulness and Fulfilment

Posted on by Allan Johnson in compassion, mindfulness, Observations

Have you ever had the feeling that life is passing you by? As if you were constantly stuck in the past or worried about the future? What if the real key to happiness and fulfilment lies in something as simple as connecting with the present moment and being fully present? Many spiritual and mindfulness practises emphasise the importance of living in the now, as this can help to reduce stress and anxiety, increase appreciation for the simple pleasures of life and improve overall wellbeing. By cultivating a sense of mindfulness and focussing our attention on the present, we can experience a greater sense of peace and contentment, allowing us to make the most of each moment as it unfolds.

When we talk about presence, we mean the opposite of being in the future or in the past. Much of our waking life is dominated by our worries about the past and our fears about the future. What gets lost in between is the present moment. Dwelling on the past often leads to regret, while worrying about the future often leads to anxiety. It is important to realise that living in the present does not mean ignoring the lessons of the past or neglecting the future. Rather, it is about finding a balance between learning from the experiences of the past and carefully preparing for what is to come while fully enjoying the beauty and possibilities of the present. This mindset can lead to a deep sense of gratitude, mindfulness and a deeper connection with the world around us.

The present moment is the only time we have control over. We have no control over the past and we cannot fully control the future — although we can influence it through our actions in the present. Therefore, the present is the most valuable and important time to focus on. When we are fully in the present, we can make the most of every experience, connect more deeply with others and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. When we focus on the present, we can also better manage our thoughts and emotions, leading to a greater sense of inner peace and contentment. When we embrace the present moment, we can make conscious choices and take intentional action to shape our future in a way that aligns with our values and goals.

Writer and Zen practitioner Natalie Goldberg sums up the essence of presence beautifully with her quote: ‘Every moment is enormous, and it’s all we have.’ We rarely think about the fact that all that really exists is this one moment of awareness. This quote from Goldberg captures the true essence of presence and why it is so important. Presence allows us to appreciate each moment as it unfolds and to fully engage with the richness of our experience and the interconnectedness of all things. When we embrace presence, we can also enjoy the beauty of simple things and feel gratitude for the ordinary, developing a deeper sense of fulfilment and satisfaction in our daily lives. When we embrace the practise of presence, we become attuned to our surroundings and develop a greater sense of empathy and understanding for others. It also provides us with the clarity to make conscious choices and respond thoughtfully to the ebbs and flows of life, rather than being consumed by worries about the future or regrets about the past. In essence, presence is not just a state of being, but a gateway to a more mindful, purposeful and enriched existence.

Imagine spending time with a close friend or loved one, knowing that this may be the last time you will see them face-to-face. How would your behaviour change in this conversation? If you knew this was your last conversation, your attention to every detail and nuance in the moment would increase. This increased attention is a new form of presence where every detail and nuance is noticed, appreciated and valued. You may find that you enjoy the way their eyes sparkle when they smile or the tone of their laughter. Every gesture and expression becomes precious and imprinted in your memory with unrivalled clarity. The words exchanged carry a weight that transcends the ordinary and takes on an almost tangible meaning. In this state of heightened presence, time seems to slow down, allowing you to savour and appreciate every moment. The shared experiences, the dreams and the unspoken realisations are distilled into a precious essence and form a tapestry of memories that will endure beyond the boundaries of time.

A very good friend of mine, who later became an important artist, told me something that has stayed with me since we were teenagers. She said, ‘whenever something really special happens in your life, stop for a moment and recognise it.’ This simple practise of taking a moment and saying, ‘this is a really special moment, a really special time,’ is something I still do regularly. Anchoring the uniqueness of the present moment in my consciousness is a powerful practise. Reflecting on the individual details of the experience, the emotions felt and the impact of the moment has allowed me to cultivate gratitude and deep appreciation for the richness of life. It is fascinating how these small pauses can add depth and meaning to our daily lives and fill it with a sense of wonder and joy. Each time I engage in this practise, I find myself embracing the beauty of the present moment and understanding the significance of these unique experiences that form the tapestry of my life.

When we talk about the present, past and future in English, we engage in a complex interplay of linguistic constructions that profoundly affect our understanding of time. Unlike some other languages, English does not have a true future tense. Instead, we rely on auxiliary verbs and other linguistic devices to convey actions or events that have not yet occurred. This approach not only reflects the flexibility and adaptability of the English language, but also emphasises the intricate relationship between language and temporal perception. Think of phrases like ‘I will go to the store later today’ or ‘I am meeting my friends for dinner tonight.’ Through these expressions, we manifest a cognitive shift towards prospective thinking by subtly directing our awareness towards future events. This linguistic nuance embedded in our everyday communication plays an important role in the way we conceptualise time. It often causes us to anticipate and plan for the future rather than fully engaging with the present moment.

Poets have long been fascinated by the role of language in shaping our understanding of time. They seek to capture the fleeting moments and evoke deep emotions with their words. One such tradition that has been particularly successful in this endeavour is the haiku, a poetic form that beautifully captures the essence of the present moment. Originating in Japan, haiku are revered for their concise and evocative style, often depicting scenes from nature or daily life in just a few lines. This form of poetry emphasises simplicity, brevity and mindfulness and encourages both the poet and the reader to appreciate the subtle beauty of the here and now. Influenced by Zen Buddhism, the haiku form emphasises that being fully aware and present in each moment is not only an artistic endeavour, but also a deeply spiritual practise. Zen philosophy teaches that the present moment is the only reality we truly have, and it exhorts us to let go of distractions, judgements and worries and instead embrace the fullness of each passing moment. By encouraging us to look inward, observe without judgement and immerse ourselves fully in the present, haiku poetry offers a powerful reflection of Zen philosophy and challenges us to cultivate a heightened awareness of the world around us.

How often do we assume that we will only be happy if something happens in the future? Phrases like ‘I wish I had…’ or ‘I will be happy if…’ postpone the possibility of happiness and joy to an indefinite point in the future. Instead of focusing only on the future, we should transform our hopes and dreams for tomorrow into something like ‘I am grateful for’ and ‘I am content now’. By shifting our mindset to gratitude and contentment, we can find happiness in the present moment instead of always waiting for a future event. By returning to the present in each moment, we are not shirking responsibility for the future, but fully embracing it and enriching our lives in every moment, especially the moment we actually have control over. Gratitude and contentment in the present allows us to live a more fulfilling life, appreciating the beauty of each moment and finding joy in everyday experiences.

By remembering that the past is gone and the future is to come, we can focus on the present moment and our awareness of it. This practise allows us to cultivate a sense of mindfulness and appreciate the beauty of each moment. When we embrace the present moment, we can savour the small pleasures of life, be it the warmth of the sun on our skin, the laughter of a loved one or the stillness of nature. By being fully present in our lives, we can also deepen our connections with others, build meaningful relationships and enrich the tapestry of our existence. Let’s continue our journey to live more in the present and appreciate the richness this brings to our lives and the lives of those around us.

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Time and Attachment in Spiritual Practice

Posted on by Allan Johnson in attachment, meditation

The most common concern I hear from students is usually expressed in one of two ways. The first is, “I can’t meditate. I just can’t.” The second is a variation on the first theme, which is the idea that meditation is something you have to do every day for 30 minutes in a quiet room. In the same way that hiking can be as simple as walking up a hill to appreciate the view, or as complicated as a multi-day expedition across the Rockies, meditation can be quiet and passive, or active and challenging. In the broadest sense, meditation is a way to focus your attention, and when you can focus your attention on a single thing, you can develop that ability to an almost superhuman degree.  In fact, the goal of meditation is not to make your mind completely empty. The goal is to establish and maintain a relationship between your mind and your heart so that the two work together in tandem. When this happens, you are able to make better decisions and live a more mindful and meaningful life. 

When we begin one of the spiritual practices such as meditation or embark on a spiritual path, we may notice a change in our perception of the world around us. It is easy to interpret these changes as a loss of interest in the material world. However, there is a very important difference between materialism and material value. Materialism is attachment to material possessions, whereas material value is the idea that we can derive value from our relationship with the material world. Many people have a very fragile relationship with the material world. We can have a material relationship that is defined by attachment, or we can have a material relationship with a value system that is positive and sustaining. Material value is based on the idea that we can find value in the material world. When we are able to look past the distractions of the material world and focus our attention more on the things that really matter, we are able to find a deeper relationship with the material world that is full of supporting value.

When it comes to the spiritual path, we are often given the idea that we must detach ourselves from the world around us. The problem with this idea is that it creates a conflict between the material world and our spiritual practice. When we begin to develop a spiritual practice, we often become aware of the limitations of our body or the limitations of the material world. This conflict often leads to a kind of spiritual burn-out, where the student stops developing their inner wisdom and instead starts developing their inner intolerance toward the world around them. In meditation we are not encouraged to disconnect from the world around us. Instead, we are encouraged to connect with our inner guidance and find a deeper relationship with the universe. We can love our family, enjoy our hobbies and interests, and even enjoy being busy or working hard. When we open ourselves to our inner guidance and a deeper truth, we are able to find a deeper relationship with the material world. By being in touch with our inner guidance, we can find a deeper relationship with the material world. This deeper relationship is full of supportive values, and these values can help us to live a more fulfilling, meaningful, and purposeful life. 

The most valuable thing we possess is time. The more time we can spend in a conscious state, the more conscious time we can enjoy. The more conscious time we can enjoy, the more value we can create in our lives. When we are in a conscious state, we are able to make conscious choices, understand the choices we make and live a more conscious life. When we are not in a conscious state, we are not able to make conscious choices, understand the choices we make and live a more conscious life.

We have so much to gain by developing a stronger relationship with our inner guidance and listening to our inner wisdom. We can create a more fulfilling, meaningful, and purposeful life for ourselves. We can overcome our limitations and find the power to change. We can find peace, happiness, and fulfilment when we let our inner wisdom guide us. But we can also lose so much if we neglect our inner wisdom. We can lose our peace, happiness, and fulfilment. We can lose the ability to live our lives in alignment with the truth that we are. We can lose our dreams, our purpose, and our sense of purpose. We can lose ourselves in the world and lose the opportunity to find the deeper meaning and significance we are searching for. The more we are in touch with our inner guidance, the more we understand the impact of our thoughts and feelings on our lives. The more we understand the impact of our thoughts and emotions on our lives, the more we are able to change the things that make us unhappy, stressed or unfulfilled. The more we are able to change the things that make us feel unhappy, stressed and unfulfilled, the happier, more peaceful and fulfilled we are. 

Time is a precious commodity. We need to make a conscious decision to be in touch with our inner guidance. This is the most powerful choice we can make. When we are in touch with our inner guidance, we are able to create a more conscious life, a more fulfilling life and a life that is in harmony with the truth that we are.

Download your free 21-day course in The Path of Mindfulness. In this life-changing 21-day mindfulness journey, Dr Allan Kilner-Johnson guides you through a series of self-guided mindfulness exercises and shows you how and when to bring mindfulness into your daily life.