Being present is a gift to oneself from "summary" of Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
When we truly inhabit our moments with the kind of presence that is the essence of living mindfully, we are also able to inhabit our lives. This is not a trivial matter. It is, in fact, a matter of life and death. Inhabiting our lives fully, taking our seat in our own lives, involves being present for our own lives. This means showing up for our lives, every moment, every day. This is not as easy as it may seem, given the complexity and relentless pace of our lives. Being present is not just a state of mind, a quality of awareness, but also a quality of being, a gift to oneself. It is a gift that we can give ourselves in any moment, no matter how the moment is. It is also a gift that we can give to others. Being present for ourselves is also being present for others. We can only be present for others as fully as we are able to be present for ourselves. Being present is not about escaping from our lives, but about showing up for them in all their fullness, even when the fullness includes pain, sadness, fear, or anger. Being present is about being with what is, without needing to fix it, change it, or make it go away. It is about being with ourselves, just as we are, in this moment, without judgment or criticism. Being present is a radical act of self-acceptance and self-compassion. It is a way of saying to ourselves, "I am here, I am with you, I am not going anywhere. I am not abandoning you." Being present is a way of being our own best friend, our own source of strength and support. It is a way of being with ourselves in a way that is healing, nurturing, and empowering. Being present is a way of reclaiming our lives from the tyranny of our minds, from the grip of our thoughts and emotions. It is a way of stepping out of the endless cycle of reactivity and into the spaciousness of awareness. Being present is a way of waking up to our lives, of seeing things as they really are, rather than as we imagine them to be. Being present is a way of living with greater ease, grace, and wisdom. It is a way of cultivating the qualities of mindfulness, such as patience, curiosity, compassion, and equanimity. It is a way of living with greater freedom and flexibility, of responding to life with greater
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