Presence

We’ve all been there – that split second when we feel a wave of irritation or frustration rising. Our thoughts start spinning, drawing up past grievances and projecting into an imagined future conflict. If we’re not careful, we can get swept away by the undertow of our negativity.

This is where the timeless wisdom of Syd Banks’ three principles can help anchor us. Banks taught that our experience of life arises from three foundational elements: Mind (the energy of life itself), Consciousness (our awareness of existence), and Thought (the power to perceive and create our experience of reality).

One of my clients recently shared a powerful example of state of mind and its impact on how our lives look and feel. She was about to get into an argument with her partner when she had a shift in consciousness. Rather than mindlessly following the negative train of thought, she paused and turned her attention inward.

In that moment of stillness, she realized she had a choice. She could dive into the swirling eddy of her bad mood, likely tainting the entire weekend with conflict. Or, she could stay buoyant, letting the turbulent thoughts and feelings pass like clouds across an open sky.

She tuned into her “internal gyroscope” – her innate wisdom and sense of equilibrium. From that place of presence, she could see her state of mind with greater objectivity. The upset was coming from her thought stream, not from external circumstances.

So she waited, not acting on the reactive impulse of the moment. And as nature always returns to balance, her turbulent thoughts and emotions soon gave way to a lighter, better feeling. “I forgot about it and had a great weekend,” she shared later. “I’m not even sure what the argument was going to be about.”

This is the power we all have available every instant – the power of presence. When we remember that our experiences arise from consciousness and thought, we can disentangle from the stories that keep us stuck. We can choose again, aligning with the Truth within that isn’t defined by any temporary ripple on the surface of life.

The next time you feel a storm brewing inside, pause and feel (not think about) the sensations of the body. Rest. Do nothing. Leave the passing clouds of thought and watch the skies open to reveal the warm sunshine of your deepest being.