What does a cat have to do with Presence?

A lot. I have found that just being with a cat can bring you immediately to experience a profound presence. Read more in the thought of the month below... ;)

Related to experiencing more presence, here's something that I've been pondering lately: how to expand my website. You have come to receive this newsletter because at some point you came across my website and you liked it enough to subscribe to 'Dare To Play It Big'.

What I speak about on my website is my own experience about one's own thoughts and how to 'play' with them to have a more fulfilling and happy life.

But of course, that's not all of it. As I keep learning and living life, I see a further dimension which goes beyond thought. How can I communicate my experience of that which is beyond thought, on a website about thought?

Anyhow, if you have any suggestions or ideas I would love to hear them... I love that you are there, reading this newsletter, and I would like you to keep being there and keep obtaining insights or ideas from the content of my site.

And now for something completely present... ;)

As I type this, a black cat is sleeping on my lap. When she does that, I normally stop all that I'm doing and I just stroke her - I just stay on my chair and she stays on me.

This cat is not mine. I believe it's some neighbour's cat, but I don't know who exactly. She just likes spending most of her waking time at our house.

She likes jumping on to my lap when I'm at my computer, looking for strokes. I never had a cat, so this is new for me. I am still surprised when it happens and amazed at her stillness.

This brings me to what I want to share with you this month: we need to stop.

See, the cat jumping on my lap forces me to stop. Really stop all that I'm doing and all thought - and I become some ball of energy which is just sitting with another ball of energy.

Since the cat has started spending time with me, I have been stopping fully here and there, more and more. I take a break at work to simply sit outside and just be. I let go of thoughts, I become fully present, voluntarily. Nothing to do, nowhere to get to.

I have found that stopping in this way (and not just when meditating, for instance) is like an oasis in my days. After I've sat for a few minutes just being I find myself refreshed and more energized to continue with whatever I was doing.

I suppose that the 'trick' is that I don't stop when I've finished doing something. I stop in the middle of things, which of course stops the continually-busy mode of being which most of us have, modern life and all.

Here I invite you to stop once a day and just do nothing for a few minutes. Set an alarm at a random time, and when it goes off just leave whatever you're doing (well maybe not in the middle of cooking!) and stop fully for a few minutes.

See how it works for you - and let me know, I would love to hear from you! :)

I'm currently reading a book from Jon Kabat-Zinn called 'Wherever you go, there you are'. And quite synchronistically I came across a talk on Mindfulness which he gives at Google.

The talk is just over an hour long, and very interesting. If you feel that you cannot spend an hour just sitting and listening to the talk, try listening to it while you do things at home, like folding laundry or cleaning - it's guaranteed that something he says may call your attention at some point and you'll actually stop to mindfully listen :)

Here is Jon Kabat-Zinn with 'Mindfulness'.

I believe that being grateful for something is one of the most powerful tools to feel better immediately. Here are the two thanking bits of the month:

Thankful for... transparent Post-it note markers. I have a particular way of reading books. When I come across something interesting, that I want to think about further or share on Facebook or check out, I mark it with a transparent Post-it note marker. When I finish reading the book, I go through every marker and I action it as necessary - and make a mindmap of the content of the book. Call me bookish, call me geek - I love doing this and I love transparent Post-it notes :)

Thankful for... the evening breeze. For the most of July we have been having a very nice weather in London - around 30 degrees Celsius! I'm loving it (and I'm loving wearing summer clothes) but given that it is so hot I'm also appreciating the cool breeze of the evening. Everything being a matter of balance ;)

What are you thankful for? Share your gratitude on this page and read what others are thankful for!

Care to send me your thoughts about this issue's topics? Email me and let me know!

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please pass it along to your friends, family and colleagues, or send them to the Dare To Play It Big sign up page. I thank you in advance.

Stay well,

Cristina

P.S. Feeling stressed and worried because of problems at work? Then check my handbook 'From Conflict To Calm' - based on my own experience with conflict with my boss, my handbook gives you the keys to move from a powerless situation to one of peace.

P.S.S. Tired of procrastinating? Wish you got more out of your own life but you don't know how? In my handbook 'Power Over Procrastination' you will find the exact plan, techniques and tools I use to get things done easily - leaving procrastination behind altogether!