"Welcome the present moment as if you had invited it. It is all we ever have, so we might as well work with it rather than struggling against it. We might as well make it our friend and teacher rather than our enemy." ~Pema Chodron
Every moment contains an opportunity for a choice - love or fear? Possibility or limitation? Seriousness or light-heartedness? Resistance or acceptance? Growth or comfort? Creating change requires consistently making choices in alignment with your goal.
That may sound simple, but it requires a level of awareness most of us don’t have much experience maintaining. Have you ever arrived somewhere in your car with no recollection of the journey? Walked away from a conversation and had no idea what was said? Events like those remind us how often we operate on auto-pilot, without being fully present. While our ability to function automatically can save us a lot of time, it can also undermine our transformation.
Practicing presence is absolutely crucial to our personal revolution. Two of the most powerful keys to presence are sensation & breath. Notice your thoughts, emotions, actions, and physical responses. Pay attention to what tempts you to check-out, run away, or numb out. Be there for every possible moment.
No matter what is happening around you, you have a choice. Who you will be in the face of it? What story will you tell about it? Will you suffer over it or accept it? Will you let it stop you or find a way to learn and grow from it? Your life is the sum-total of the choices you made in the ever-unfolding present moment. Choose!