So often in life, we are governed by our unexplored emotions.  

We feel something so we take it to be fact and then we react in accordance.

This can be an internal reaction or an external reaction in response to something that is said or done to us.

Our emotional reactions block a more expanded view of how things are in that moment. 

The emotion bubbles up or just bursts out and we say or do something we would rather have not as our thoughts are coloured by the emotion and we can not clearly see the bigger picture of the situation.

In a moments clarity, we could see through the emotional reaction creating a space in which we would chose a response more in alignment with who we are, rather than just unconsciously react to a situation.

In truth, no one really wants to hurt anyone, we just project our own pain onto others.  So many times a simple gesture or words of compassion can diffuse an otherwise heated situation.   If we move our position from one of feeling like we are under personal attack to seeing anothers pain, we can truly make powerful change to our own experience and often, the outcome of the situation. 

A simple example is road rage.  Do we really think that if people were coming from a deeper understanding of themselves they would come to blows over cutting someone off in traffic?

If someone cuts me off in traffic, I would be more inclined to make more space between us as it would seem they are not so aware of space and safe driving in that moment.  I am sure I must have done it unintentionally to someone somewhere in my life as I drive a lot.

If someone says something to you that you consider rude, do you take offence?

Do you feel that need to defend yourself arise in your body and feel indignant, or fire up ready to let them know just who they are dealing with or skulk away with a festering wound?

We are responsible for what we say and the energy or meaning we put behind it.   We have all met the smiling assassin before, someone who smiles and says something nice but clearly means something else?  The energy behind what we say is palpable.  
The space we hold is important, our "field of awareness", as it is how we really communicate.  

Being present allows us to notice what is happening in our bodies and become aware of how to bring ouselves back into alignment.

Using the breath is a powerful tool to open the doorway to presence.
Each time you bring yourself into the NOW, you are stepping out of habitual thought and Being.
The more you do this, the deeper and more expanded your awareness becomes.
You start to remember more of who you are and recognise how easy it is to function outside of habitual thinking.
It enhances every part of your experience of life and takes you to the essence of all life.

What could be better than that?
Stop.
Refocus.
Breath.
Keep it simple.

At the end of a recent new meditation class, I was approached by a lady who told me was amazed that whilst during meditation,  she was able to experienced her mind running and that she was able to see that she was separate from it.
Throughout her previous meditation experience, she had been trying to still her mind, to make it quiet and she had never achieved this which lead her to feel like she was failing, which in turn gave her mind a field of thoughts of not being good enough, etc. 
She had not realised that stilling the mind was only one way to meditate.  When we went into the witness mode in meditation, she was able to clearly see a space where she could watch the thoughts.

Thoughts come and go.
They are repetitive and constant when left unchecked.

 This mind chatter is outside of the present moment and a projection of emotion, judgement, past experience etc.
If you are connected to the thoughts, you are in the past or the future.  

When there is an experience of separation from the mind it brings about immense change.  
When we realise that we can separate from the incessant chatter that is the mind at it worst,  then we discover a dimension of ourselves that is "outside" of thought.

Separating from thought brings us into Being.  
Being is "outside" of the realm of the thinking mind.
We start to pay attention to THAT which is always with us.

A Great Being used to say, "True religion is the religion of the SELF.
It lies in searching for one's true nature and stabilizing oneself there.
Thoughts, identities, egos and Religious traditions are based on concepts.
There is silence when these concepts are given up."

The awareness is a silent space, yet at the same time it is completely full.  
To try and describe consciousness is impossible with words.   
When we do try, it is only to point you in the direction of your SELF.
The space within the words is talking to a part of you that ALREADY knows.
The part of you that is timeless and eternal and is always there.
That is why it is familiar to you. 

Make a movement today to be present.
Breath, be aware and relax.
Look for the space between the breaths, the moments of stillness.
The best thing about any of these tools that we use is you can start where you are now.
There is no waiting or planning.

Keep it simple. breath and be.
See for yourself what is outside the realm of thought.