You try to stay in the moment with your calm mind, but your mind is miles away… Trapped in a mental music video, a past mistake, or a future fear. Yet to an outsider, you seem perfectly at ease: enjoying a peaceful evening with your loved one, yourself, or your cat. So why aren’t you fully present?
Unless you have a serious medical condition, perhaps what you really need is to declutter your mind. Over time, I’ve learned that sometimes you just have to follow the simplest path of thought. “No, this isn’t an MS flare or fatigue. My mind is just overwhelmed, and I’m making it worse by overloading it further.”
While listing my tasks, I find myself burdened by anxiety about my family, distracted by news of an earthquake in Greece that might affect my home in Bodrum, and overwhelmed by fears I can’t control. My thoughts race in all directions—some ahead, some behind, a few looming above me like the relentless lyrics of a rap song.
“I need to stop this,” I told myself.
A visual representation of how to calm your mind with mindfulness.
Staying present… People often tell you to “stay in the moment,” but for us (or maybe just me, lol..), staying present feels like swimming upstream. It’s not as simple as it sounds.
Our minds are constantly flooded with echoes of the past and anxieties about the future. And if not those, then the endless notifications and distractions on our phones keep us mentally elsewhere.
We either dwell on moments long gone or worry about uncertainties that haven’t yet happened. Our minds fantasize about other people’s lives and lead us away from our own. But if we pause for a moment, we might realize that our current moment is exactly where peace resides.
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Imagine Your Calm Mind as a Home
Picture a home filled with comforting objects, your favorite people, cozy furniture, and an atmosphere of tranquility. Neither the noise outside nor the chaos of your thoughts can disturb you here. This is what the present moment can be—a safe haven for your mind. Despite your fears and feelings, your intuition quietly whispers: “Stay here. This is your home.”
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Yet, we often struggle to stay in that mental home. It feels as though an invisible force pulls us away: “Teleport to the past and relive that mistake,” or “Jump to the future and prepare for the worst-case scenario.” Our minds, trying to protect us, fill our awareness with warnings. And in doing so, they drown out the peaceful voice of the present.
This Is Where Mindfulness Comes In
Mindfulness is a practice of sending a different message to your mind: “Everything is okay right now. You can let go of the past and the future for a while.” This journey begins with a deep breath. You reconnect with your body and surroundings, becoming whole. You hear your heartbeat, feel your breath, and it gently reminds you:
“You are home.”
A peaceful moment where mindfulness and nature come together—a reminder to stay present and grounded.
Staying present with your calm mind is often seen as a skill, but maybe it’s more about remembering. When we realize we’ve drifted far from our inner peace, all we need to do is return. There’s no need for extravagant methods or complex techniques. Just pause, listen to your breath, and allow yourself to feel that calm once more.
If we learn to stay present, our moments can offer us everything we need. The hardest part may be believing that this peace is real. But once you trust it, the present moment becomes your most secure and serene harbor.
A Simple Realization
As I continue learning and practicing mindfulness, I’ll keep sharing my thoughts. Today, for example, I noticed something: when I stay present, my coffee stays hot. But when I drift off into my thoughts, I end up with a cold cup. (Note 1: I forget to take the coffee out of the machine in time. Note 2: I don’t like cold coffee.)
