Show Up and Be Present
It may seem obvious, but if we're going to do this practice, we're going to have to show up. So ensure, from time to time, that you actually look at what's coming up for you. Begin by looking at your intention. Is my intention to manifest as compassion, to walk into suffering, and to transform it? It's important that we ensure that this is how we enter each moment.
Then, look at your presence. Open your eyes and truly see what's around you. Appreciate what is being seen, heard, and felt, and try to bring into the present moment the things you're not aware of. If we're going to be actualized, we must be actualized by what's accessible to our sensory perception—and by the things we may be intentionally pushing outside of our awareness.
Finally, take a good hard look at your thoughts. Are your thoughts dwelling in the present? Or are they stuck on some past misdeeds or wrongs—whether those done to you or those you've done to others? Or are they living in some future state where things will supposedly be better, where you won’t be facing your current challenges?
Gently bring your thoughts back to the here and now, to the task at hand. When these three things—your intention, your presence, and your thoughts—are aligned, this path becomes easy, joyful, and liberating. But if they’re not aligned, then you’re being driven by karmic momentum, and you’ll be creating more ripples in the stream, making for choppy sailing.
So as you go about your practice, make sure you actually show up. Make an effort to show up fully and appreciate your life.
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