black woman meditating in the outdoors
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I was sitting in my car this morning having some quiet time before heading into the office. It’s a mini meditation practice I do to set my energy for the day.

I’m at ease and feeling peaceful; and then the “but waits” start to come in. All the noise of why you shouldn’t find ease in the moment. The things you need to do, and all the things you should be concerned about. How can you smile and be happy with all there is to worry about? This is what the mind does. It ruminates and activates anxiety for things that are either in the past, or an anticipatory future. You don’t have to listen to or engage with it in that moment.

Things are going to happen. Challenges will arise, but there is no need to experience them twice. Which is what I said to my mind. “Yes, I know there are things I could be concerned about, but they are not happening now. When/if these things happen, I will be ready for the experience. But I also want to enjoy this moment that is present for me Now.” With that, I let it go, and sat with my now experience.

background balance beach boulder
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And that’s part of having a mindful meditative practice. It’s being present and aware of what is happening and what you are experiencing moment to moment. You do not have to project out into the future. Or look back to the past with regret and reactivate old emotions; you’ve lived it already.

It’s not that you will never do this, or have these thoughts. But if you can meet them with awareness, you have the opportunity to not let them take you over and activate what is not needed right now.

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