I recently came across this lovely little saying: Remember that relationships, children and gardens reflect the kind of care they get.
If we are going to ask someone if they are okay, we need to listen and be present with them. If we genuinely ask that question, a vulnerable space opens up. We may not have all the answers, but we can care and listen. The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence, care, and absence of judgement.
Sadly, it’s a rare event when we’re really, truly present with others. There are many ways we can fall into the trap of not doing so. Our views, agendas, and opinions come along with us, usually unwittingly, and can easily stand in the way of seeing others clearly, as they really are.
Uncertainty, business, and stress further impact our relationships as we navigate family, team and work dynamics. It is impossible to be there for others when we feel overwhelmed and not present ourselves. Our fuse is short: we can start to feel impatient, uncomfortable or frustrated.
The good news is that presence is always available to us, all we need to do is shift the focus of our attention from doing and thinking to being here now. It's that easy and that difficult. We can learn to access this natural capacity we all have through the practice of mindfulness and self-awareness.
“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.” Thich Nhat Hanh