Photo by Izabel 🏳️‍🌈 on Unsplash

How can I be present without participating?

During yoga class, my teacher stated, “Be present without participating.” At this moment, I was trying to keep my balance during a tree pose. I wondered what this phrase could mean. How can I be both present and not participate? Isn’t being present a way of participating? As I pressed my right foot into my left leg and tried to keep from falling, I thought that maybe this is what he means. Be present and do not engage with the wobble of every moment. If I remained present in my own core stability and calm, I could better maintain the pose. If I participated in the wobble, I might fall out. I needed to focus my eyes on one steady point.

Parenting and Wobbling

As a parent, I see this fine balance as a constant dance. Be present without participating.