One of my happy places is the beach.

I breathe deeper when I see the vastness and space, and my heart opens.

Whether watching the waves or swimming, the rhythm and energy of the water calm my nervous system and set my soul free.

Recently, I had a beautiful experience. I was sitting on the beach with my feet in the sand, looking out at the horizon and the water, with no beginning or end. I found the mystery of it all so peaceful and mesmerizing.

It was a windy day, and there was an aliveness in the air. As I closed my eyes, I felt like I was experiencing a perfectly orchestrated symphony. The soft breeze and the sun's warmth were on my skin; I could hear the waves crashing into the shore and people talking in the distance. Every sound, feeling, smell, and sensation was unique and captivating.

I was anchored in the moment, present, observing it all.

When I opened my eyes, everything looked more vibrant and clear. I felt connected to something greater than myself.

When we talk about being present, sometimes it can be unclear.

We may have questions like...

Where do I start?
What does it feel like?

This experience on the beach illustrates this beautifully.

Let me explain.

Looking out at the water and seeing the waves reminds me of what mindfulness means to me. When we are present, mindfulness is like an anchor: secure, grounding, and stable.

When we do not anchor in the now, we can feel lost at sea with no compass or oars to guide us home. We can feel unsafe, shaky, and alone.

The waves come and go. They can be high and low.

Our emotions and thoughts come and go. Life can be high and low.

We can't control whether the waves rise too high from one day to the next, but we can choose to be anchored in our body and in the now.

This is where our peace resides, where we feel connected to our true essence.

By regularly practicing mindfulness and meditation, we can explore the depths of our inner ocean and discover the peace, wisdom, and transformative power within.

As the ocean becomes deeper and more mysterious as you descend, meditation takes us deeper into our consciousness. Surface-level thoughts give way to more profound insights and experiences.

The deep ocean is often calm and still, much like the state of the mind; this stillness allows for clarity and reflection.

The ocean depths hold undiscovered wonders, just as meditation can reveal hidden aspects of our psyche, creativity, and inner wisdom.

It is more common than not for people to spend most of their time in their heads and rarely in their bodies. But when we can be in our bodies, feeling our feet on the ground, sensing our arms and legs, our senses are alive.

To be in our body is to connect to our direct experience of our soul's consciousness and true nature and experience that connectivity to what we encounter in our physical world.

Life, emotions, and experiences are happening, and we choose to anchor in the nowness of our experience as consciousness-aware.

When we find our anchor, we find our freedom and strength. We have the inner resources and strength to navigate life's unpredictable waters.

This is my experience.

How do you anchor to the present moment in your life?

What encourages, calls to you, or inspires you to pause and breathe a little deeper? To turn inward and be still even for just one breath?

May you find it and return to it again and again.

With loving kindness,

Diane