Most of what is happening in our world is shaped by what’s happening in our mind. Or one could say that the quality of our mind determines the quality of our lives. I think many of us probably live our lives in thoughts. Thoughts can be great if we put them to good use and create something beautiful out of them. But more often than not, our thoughts feed into our egos. Instead of being in control we get controlled by our thoughts. This ultimately leads to suffering. The spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle also often talks about the Egoic Mind.
We have a habit of living in our thoughts. Our minds tend to dictate our lives. We think about the past, we worry about our future, we form judgements about other people, we worry about what others may say about us, etc. The mind can sometimes be a very chaotic place and in extreme cases has the ability to cripple our lives. So quietening the mind seems to be one of the most important things to do if we want to bring more quality into our lives.
The best way to quieten our mind is perhaps the practice of being present. I am sure it’s a concept many people have hear about. Some people call this mindfulness or awareness. But correct terminology isn’t really that important in my opinion, it’s the experience that counts.
Being present basically means to bring your attention to this moment, this very moment. When you bring your full attention to this moment, you are fully present and your thoughts will naturally disappear. A sense of calm and serenity will emerge. There are many ways to be present. For example, it can be done through noticing our breathing, noticing our inner body energy, engaging all senses and becoming aware of everything around us, even the most insignificant thing. These are some simple practices we could do easily in our everyday lives. The practice of being present can always be done right here and now.
It’s such a simple thing yet not easy to do. It seems insignificant yet it’s extremely powerful. We will probably need to remind ourselves constantly if it’s not something we are used to. Ultimately, being present means being absolutely content in this moment. Feeling calm and at ease with yourself without needing anything else, you are complete as is. This is happiness.