Meditation Mind: Practicing Acceptance of the Present Moment

A meditative mind practices acceptance of the present moment. Practicing acceptance means acknowledging how things are in the moment. It means staying present, even when it feels uncomfortable or difficult, and consciously choosing responding rather than reacting.

The boundary to what we can accept is the boundary to our freedom. –Tara Brach

We can learn to be more fully present in our lives by practicing mindfully meeting whatever arises. Learning to be present with whatever comes—the pleasant, unpleasant or neutral sensations, feelings, thoughts and events—allows us to live with a greater sense of freedom and ease.

When we meet what is already here with an attitude of wanting it to be otherwise, we create a state of resistance in the body and mind that pulls us out of the present moment and farther away from a deeper sense of peace, happiness and well-being. What is happening is already happening, so we may as well meet it with lovingkindness and compassion. Meeting whatever arises with kindness brings a greater sense of peace. We release the resistance and simply acknowledge how things are in the present moment with kindness.

When we meet all of our experience with a meditative mind, we experience a greater sense of peace, happiness, wellbeing, and resilience. We become more skillfully able to be present with whatever arises in our lives and in our meditation practice.

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