Present Moment

Finding stillness within, becoming aware that you are aware, takes practice. Present moment awareness is the day-to-day art of being conscious in the moment. Also known as mindfulness, or being in “the now,” this practice is embedded in the system of yoga. By bringing our full attention to the present moment, or what is happening now, we tame our mental wanderings. This is the awakened state.

Most of us are not present most of the time. When lost in thought, we are “asleep,” according to the yogic tradition. Unconscious thoughts generally take us back to the past or ahead to the future.

When we turn our attention back on itself, we can see that our random thinking has created a room around us with walls constructed of our made-up stories. These walls may have helped us feel safe, but they are not real, and at some point, they are no longer necessary.

With present moment awareness, the walls begin to dissolve, revealing the unlimited, beautiful landscape all around us. It may feel scary at first, but little by little, higher consciousness will take hold, giving way to a newfound freedom.