The powerful and understated practice of becoming present.

It's not just there for experiencing peace.

Your true identity lies in what you identify with.

It’s firstly in your awareness, of how life has shaped you and your beliefs. And how you project those beliefs onto your every day life, through your thoughts, words and actions.

In the moments, you are presented with an opportunity and you immediately say to yourself, or out loud “Oh no, I can’t do that.” Or “I am not the kind of person that.. ”

In the times when your nervous system speaks more loudly than your intuition, because a painful experience from the past, is still hard wired and running the show.

In the days, when you decide to take action, or not. When protecting what is familiar and safe, becomes more important than growth and expansion.

And then when the awareness is gained, the decision has to be made, as to whether you have been shaped in a way that benefits you or…hinders you. And, what if anything, are you going to do about it.

There are many modalities that can be applied when healing and changing your beliefs, Psychology, Psychotherapy and CBT to name but a few. But today as I write, I want to focus on presence. Of being present, of ‘Being in the moment´ because I truly believe that when we are in a place of neither considering the past or future, we are neutral in our identity. And its in this place of neutrality, that we are able to truly connect with our truth, with our real identity. That of a being with infinite worth, love, power and possibilities. But more importantly one capable of great inner peace.

Becoming present can be achieved in many different ways, but ultimately it comes in times of stillness. Through meditation, or when consciously breathing. And always with the intention of being present.

In presence there is nothing to identify with, because there is nothing happening to us, that we can adopt, there are no stories to be created, no perceptions, or projections. There is just a moment…and it feels like, freedom. And peace.

When you are present, you can fully sink into “I am that, I am” because you can be anything, everything and nothing. You are the observer of the moment, without judgement.

When I was younger I would often practice what they call ‘Daydreaming’ maybe you did too. I would be seen to be looking out of a window, chin resting on my hands, but I wasn’t seeing what was in front of me and I wasn’t thinking either. I was just being present. And it was wonderful.

On reflection I realize that those moments became less and less as I got older, and maybe that’s because I didn’t value being present as much as I should. Because I didn’t understand the value. And maybe, just maybe I would have healed much quicker if I had. But learn we must and that often means we have to take the path most painful, before the path that leads us to what brings us to our peace.

Of course not wanting to take full responsibility for my prolonged suffering, I would like to put some blame on the world we live in, how things are designed in such a way as to constantly pull us away from being present. And also to the people around us that trigger the past. That’s not to say that by being triggered, we should stay in said past, but it happens. Especially when there are such strong emotions tied to it.

I have found most recently when in moments of self-judgement, criticism or fear, that the quickest way to let go of them is simply to become present and my go to is to stare at something neutral, like grass, the sky or a wall. Almost the minute that I do this, the feelings and emotions vanish and I am then able to experience peace and calm and ultimately the identity of my truth.

When you are present and neutral, negativity looses its grip. And so do the old stories. And from a neutral place, we can then either enjoy the moment and or act from our true identity. And acting from this place is powerful and flows with the ease, granted from pure source energy.

I am interested to know, how you my readers actively practice presence and what your experiences of it are?

And also if you have used it, in order to reconnect to your true identity?

With love and gratitude

Nicola xx