Mindfulness: Resting in the Present Moment

Let's take a moment to settle into a comfortable position, either seated or lying down. Allow your body to relax and your eyes to gently close when you're ready. Take a deep, slow breath in through your nose, and as you exhale through your mouth, let go of any tension or tightness you may be holding in your body.

Take two more deep breaths like this, at your own pace. With each exhale, feel yourself letting go of any unnecessary stress or worry. Allow your breath to settle into its natural rhythm, and simply rest your attention on the sensation of the breath moving in and out of your body.

As you rest here in the present moment, you may notice your mind wandering off to thoughts of the past or the future. This is completely normal. When you catch your mind drifting, gently guide your attention back to the feeling of the breath flowing through you.

In our daily lives, we often find ourselves caught up in a constant cycle of doing, striving, and trying to improve ourselves or our circumstances. While these intentions come from a good place, we can easily become overwhelmed and exhausted by this never-ending pursuit.

Mindfulness offers us a chance to step back from this struggle and simply be. By allowing ourselves to rest in the present moment, we can cultivate a sense of contentment and peace that isn't dependent on external factors.

So, for these next few moments, let yourself just be. There's nowhere else you need to be, nothing you need to fix or change. Simply allow yourself to rest in the present, enjoying the gentle flow of your breath.

As we begin to wind down this practice, take a moment to notice how you feel. Has taking this time to simply be present brought about any shifts in your mind or body?

Let's close by taking one final deep breath in, and as you exhale, gently open your eyes. Carry this sense of presence and peace with you as you continue on with your day.