Being in the Present ( Practice Day 3)

Mindful Journal: Day 3 — Being in the Present By Jaclyn Bae

Being fully present is the quiet essence of letting go — the doorway back to yourself.

Day 3 · Being in the Present

My mind wanders so easily. It returns to yesterday’s mistakes, or rushes ahead into worries about tomorrow. And often, without realizing it, I lose the moment I am standing in now.

Letting go calls me gently back to the present. The breath moving through my chest, the sunlight brushing across the window, the leaves swaying softly in the wind.

When I stay here — truly here — regrets about the past pause, anxieties about the future loosen, and in that stillness, I feel fully alive again.

This deliberate shift of attention is the foundation of mindfulness, a practice rooted in Eastern thought and central to modern psychology. By focusing on immediate sensory experience—the breath, the sunlight, the wind—we engage the 'present moment awareness' that anchors us. Psychologically, staying present reduces **rumination** on past mistakes and minimizes the anticipatory stress of future worries, which are major drivers of anxiety and depression. When we observe these thoughts without judgment, we cultivate **psychological flexibility**, the ability to remain open to our experiences and reduce the influence of negative mental narratives. This mindful presence is the only space where true emotional release can occur.

In essence, the practice of being present is the ultimate act of letting go. We release the heavy baggage of the past and the anticipated burdens of the future, choosing instead the simple, immediate truth of the moment. This stillness is not passive; it is an active form of self-care that reclaims the mind from its habitual wandering. By embracing the now, we find that the freedom we seek is not a distant goal, but a permanent, quiet availability within the space of our next breath.

Cloud-filled sky with soft light, symbolizing mindful presence and clarity
Being in the Present — clarity in stillness


© 2025 Jaclyn Bae · All rights reserved

Comments

  1. CiyuSeptember 29, 2025 at 5:34 PM

    맞아 우리는 늘 허상에 사로잡혀서 현재의 소중함을 놓치고 살아왔는지 몰라.. 늘 깨어있어서 알아차려야 히는데 사람인지라 자꾸 까먹네 🙄
    상기시켜줘서 고마워~ Carpe Diem! 현재에 살자! Be safe trip!

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