When life feels hectic and your mind scattered, there are simple ways to return to presence. These small practices don’t take much time but can help you feel grounded in daily life.
As summer gives way to autumn — the days growing shorter, the air cooler, the nights darker — nature itself reminds us: each of us can be a source of light in the darkness, and that light always exists beyond it.
This season often draws us either into the past (lingering over summer memories) or the future (planning routines, setting goals, chasing new visions). But it is also an invitation to simply be here now — to rest in the present moment.
Some moments bring peace; others may stir confusion. The more we practice presence, the more we nurture compassion, kindness, and the ability to meet change with grace. It all begins by choosing to be here, now.
3 Mindfulness Practices for Staying Present
1. Bring Your Whole Heart Into the Moment
“Joy is rooted in genuine, appreciative attention,” writes Willem Kuijken. Throughout your day, notice how you see, touch, and listen — how the world touches you in return. Pause, and give your full heart to these experiences.
Deepen the practice: let go of negativity and allow joy to arise.
2. Find Ground in Your Breath
When stress pulls you into the past or future, turn to the breath. J. G. Larochette suggests a simple grounding rhyme: silently repeat to yourself, “I’m standing on the floor, my back straight, my hands in my lap, my heart in the sky.” This anchors you in calm presence.
Deepen the practice: try a meditation focused on breathing out love.
3. Welcome What Arises
Life will bring both ups and downs. Instead of resisting, practice savoring the present — whatever it holds. As Barry Boyce writes of his own mindfulness journey, the practice of truly savoring each moment can challenge old assumptions, but it opens the door to a deeper way of living.
