Seek balance,
Or lose the present’s grace.
In mindful choice,
Find your true place.
The Art of Presence
Isn’t it intriguing how such a concise verse can encapsulate a profound truth about living? This piece beautifully captures the essence of mindfulness and the importance of balance in our lives.
In his book “Peace Is Every Step,” Thich Nhat Hanh writes, “The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” This sentiment is reflected in the poem’s lines “Seek balance, / Or lose the present’s grace,” highlighting the importance of mindful attention to the current moment.
The call to “seek balance” reminds me of what Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, said: “The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.” It’s in finding equilibrium in our daily lives that we often discover the most significant truths.
The concept of losing “the present’s grace” if we don’t seek balance echoes what Eckhart Tolle meant when he wrote, “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have.” Our tendency to swing between past regrets and future anxieties can rob us of the richness of now.
When the poem speaks of “mindful choice,” it brings to mind what Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist, observed: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Mindfulness creates that crucial space for choice.
The emphasis on choice echoes Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings on the power of conscious decision-making. In “The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching,” he states, “Freedom is not given to us by anyone; we have to cultivate it ourselves. It is a daily practice.” This aligns with the poem’s suggestion that finding one’s place is an active, mindful process.
The idea of finding “your true place” through mindful choice reflects what philosopher Aristotle called “eudaimonia” or human flourishing. As he put it, “Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your vocation.” By being present and making conscious choices, we align with our authentic selves.
As Thich Nhat Hanh, the Zen master, beautifully stated: “The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.”
Furthermore, the concept of equilibrium in the poem resonates with Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings on the Middle Way, a Buddhist principle of avoiding extremes. As he explains in “The Heart of Understanding,” “The Middle Way is not a point equidistant between two extremes. It is the way of nonduality and nonattachment.” This idea is reflected in the poem’s call for balance, suggesting a harmonious state of being rather than a compromise between opposites.
So what does all this mean? Perhaps it’s about recognizing that balance isn’t a destination, but a continuous practice. It’s about understanding that our most profound experiences of life often come when we’re fully present in the moment.
Remember, every time you make a mindful choice, you’re creating an opportunity for balance and grace in your life. As Anne Lamott said, “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
So next time you feel off-kilter or disconnected, consider: How can you bring more mindful awareness to this moment? Because in the end, isn’t that what makes life so rich? This ability to find our center amidst the chaos, to choose presence over distraction, to discover our true place in each moment. Your balance is waiting to be found. How will you seek it today?