​We see, hear, and read about so much suffering in the world that we can find ourselves feeling overwhelmed and helpless. Perhaps we take up a noble cause to feel like we’re doing something helpful. Injustice can lead to anger, which can propel us into action.
 
We must also not underestimate the power of modeling how we would like our world to be. When each of us is doing our own part—paying attention, being kind, moving from power and integrity—we make a difference with everyone we encounter.
 
In mindful presence,
Lori Furbush

​While you’re busily plowing ahead into this new year, perhaps harnessing the power of inspiration toward healthy goals, remember that contentment is also a healthy practice. When there is nothing to push away and nothing to reach for, contentment is the sweet gentle gift of being where you are, just as you are.
 
In mindful presence,
Lori Furbush

​A new year and new horizons. It is a bold choice to open yourself to new ways of seeing and doing in the world. Identifying one small step at a time can not only help you outline a plan, but also gives you the opportunity to celebrate the wins along the way. It is easier to leave old patterns behind if we gain courage from each of our step-by-step successes.

In mindful presence,
Lori Furbush

As we turn the corner into a new year, we often set goals and make plans to balance our lives in some way. It can be helpful to think of balance as a verb--balancing. It is not a destination but a flowing skill, adding a bit here and trimming a bit there. At this moment in time, what are you letting go of and what are you welcoming in?
 
In mindful presence,
Lori Furbush

​The Winter Solstice draws us deep within. In these darkest days we are called to rest, gather our strength, reassess, and wait. The quiet center holds limitless potential.
 
In mindful presence,
Lori Furbush

LIVING
 
It is nice to have a practice like meditation or gentle movement to reconnect with the body, center the mind, and learn to be present. But if we leave that presence on the meditation cushion or the yoga mat, we have missed the opportunity to live our practice. Your practice and your life can be one seamless flow, remembering to carry the presence of body and mind through every moment.
 
In mindful presence,
Lori Furbush

So often, we underestimate our skill and our strength. You are deeply interconnected with nature and all life. Perhaps it is time to let go of thinking small and realize your infinite wisdom and power.
 
In mindful presence,
Lori Furbush

Here in the northern hemisphere, the days are getting shorter and the sun lower in the sky. We are just a month away from the winter solstice, marking the annual gradual return of the light. Perhaps now it can be helpful to rekindle the pilot light within, resting and giving it space to glow and brighten.
 
In mindful presence,
Lori Furbush

​At first glance, practicing presence seems like a passive approach to life. If we are sitting in presence and observing everything passing through, how are we to ever get anything done? Actually, practicing presence can help us take swifter, wiser, and more decisive action. We practice stillness, observing the movement of all things, in order to learn how to attend to all the experiences—good, bad, or indifferent—of the present moment. From this clarity, we can better see what action, if any, is needed now to lay the groundwork for the future. Now is the only moment in which you can breathe, be, and take action.
 
In mindful presence,
Lori Furbush

Actuality can be defined as the bare bones actual experience, as opposed to an experience colored by our perceptions and filters. We have an entire life history stored away in the brain, body, and nervous system. This makes it difficult to parse out the true experience from our own stories. Time spent cultivating an observing mind can help us access the raw details of an experience, turning down the volume of liking and disliking, wanting and not wanting. This helps us make clearer choices in how to meet and navigate any moment.
 
In mindful presence,
Lori Furbush

We might think of stillness as the quality of space through which all things move. Sounds arise within silence. Thoughts emerge within quiet. Actions flow within stillness.
 
Like the calm presence in between breaths, stillness lives within movement, and movement within stillness. It is not an “either or” but both.
 
In mindful presence,
Lori Furbush

Will might be described as motivation and determination, the spark of inspiration that keeps us working at life, day after day. The brain loves to find problems and work at solving problems. We need that. And sometimes a good rest is the best way to reboot the brain and refresh yourself.

In mindful presence,
​Lori Furbush

There is “safe space,” when we’re resting in moments without challenge. And there is “brave space,” when we’re resting into difficulty, breathing with it, and being with it. Mindfulness invites us to dwell in that brave space when possible, to acknowledge our suffering, and to build presence and resilience.

In mindful presence,
Lori Furbush

We often find it easier to treat others with kindness than to treat ourselves with the same respect. Maybe we were told we’re not good enough or that being selfless is the right thing to do. Whatever we learned in the past may no longer hold truth today. What if you are responsible for your own happiness and well-being?

In mindful presence,
​Lori Furbush

Impatience arises when the heart and mind want to be somewhere else, but the body is here in the reality of now. Slowing down to realign with where you are can be a difficult task. Slowing down and deepening your breath can help.

In mindful presence,
​Lori Furbush

What if you are already enough—here, now, just as you are? Nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing to prove. Right here in this moment on your journey, as it should be.

In mindful presence,
​Lori Furbush

When facing a challenge, we often add to our stress load by resisting reality. Allowing does not mean to just give up and let life steamroll you. But we can allow the reality of the moment at hand, even a disturbing moment. This gives the more evolved parts of the brain and nervous system time to kick into gear, giving us more clarity and power to either choose a course of action or to choose to let this one go. Allowing can be empowering.

In mindful presence,
​Lori Furbush

Taking action is an important tool for addressing discomfort. If there is something we can do about a situation, we can make a plan and work the plan. And if there is no more action to be taken, we can then process our tensions and emotions through physical movement, sharing with a friend, and turning to our inner resources. It’s like that saying, “Do what you can. Let go of the rest.”

In mindful presence,
Lori Furbush

It’s important to review the past, collecting experiences and information. And it’s important to think of the future, setting goals and making plans. There is also so much life to be lived in the present, and so much that we miss when we’re somewhere else. The word now can be a touchstone, pooling all your resources back to where you are.

In mindful presence,
​Lori Furbush