Seeds Of Presence

Presence of mind, like any practice or discipline, is something that must be worked towards, cultivated, and developed. It is not something that can be acquired or attained in a manner that is fixed, meaning that it is something which you must consciously and continually strive to achieve. It is through this process, this perpetual state of awareness, this everlasting trial period, this alignment and realignment, this calibration and recalibration, that one realizes that to be present is to adapt. And adaptability is not a one time thing. You cannot be adaptable unless you keep adapting when necessary. Though the world or environment around you, or even within you may change or vary from one moment to the next, and it is not only the way you respond to those differences in stimuli that make you present but also the fact that you are able to respond in real time. This is interesting to note as well, because it goes to show that there is no one way in which to qualify presence of mind or responsiveness. And yet, responsiveness is in fact the way. That said, responsiveness does not always mean reactiveness. Sometimes it is more advantageous and better serves your purpose for you to be still, quiet, or ponderous. Not idle but idling. Sometimes the best course of action in any given moment is not to act immediately. Thus patience, calm, and reserve are equally important and integral to bear in mind. Like any intentional practice, the result of this mindfulness and attention to detail is a greater capacity and breadth for all that what is being ‘practiced’ can bring about or instill in the practitioner. What seeds are you sowing?