The Practice of Presence: Relearning the Joy of Deep Work

 

Yesterday, we asked a simple but profound question:
What deserves my full attention today — and am I willing to give it that gift?

If you still doubt the reach of intermittent attention, try a small experiment — one I’ve done myself.

Go to a coffee shop with time on your hands.
Take a seat at the back, where you can quietly observe most of the guests.

Notice the tables — people sitting alone, those with partners, and groups of friends.
Try to observe them all.

Watch how often their activity breaks — whether in the middle of a sentence, a thought, or a shared laugh.
And pay attention to the triggers. You’ll be surprised how easily people are distracted, even by strangers walking in, even by the ping of a phone that isn’t theirs.

That question lingers, doesn’t it?
It’s not easy to practice that wisdom, even when the answer is clear — the choice is to be here, not everywhere.

We often imagine focus as a discipline of the mind, but at its heart, it’s an act of care.
When we give something — a task, a conversation, a person — our undivided attention, we’re saying:

“You matter.”

Presence is love in its most practical form.

But every action has two sides.
If giving undivided attention says “you matter,” withholding it quietly says the opposite.
And when we act that way toward those who do matter, we begin our descent down a slippery slope — the path of unhappiness.

As we close this series, it’s worth remembering:
We hold the key to our peace and happiness in our own hands.

But relearning presence is not about withdrawing from the world — it’s about returning to it more fully.
It’s not about rigid control; it’s about regaining agency over where our mind rests.

Deep work, in this sense, is not only professional — it’s spiritual.
It’s the practice of immersion, of being wholly absorbed in what we do, until distraction loses its grip.

Our challenge is to build environments — and inner habits — where depth can thrive again.
Because while distraction is easy, depth is rare.

So before we rush back into our noise-filled routines, let’s pause for a simple — yet life-changing — promise:
To be fully present in the moment.

There may be many ways to achieve this, but I leave you with a simple routine to start practicing every day, starting today.

Notice where your mind drifts.
Each time it wanders, pause.
Take a breath.
Return to the task, the conversation, or the moment in front of you.

This simple practice, repeated over days and weeks, is how attention rebuilds itself — quietly, persistently, like a muscle regaining strength.

  Intermittent attention is not a personal flaw — today, it’s a cultural symptom.
The future will belong to those who can connect deeply to one thing at a time.

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🌿 Read. Reflect. Rejoice.

Link to Part 2 

           Link to Part 1 

The Still Mind: How to Begin Meditating (Part 2)

 

When I published the previous post on why we need meditation, I didn’t imagine life would underline it so poignantly so soon. Just a few days later, we lost a dear friend — someone who epitomised life, laughter, and warmth.

Now, meditation feels even more urgent — not as a philosophy, but as a lifeline. It has calmed my mind for years, but now it feels like a calling — to share, to remind others that peace of mind is no longer a luxury; it’s survival.

Contrary to what many believe, meditation is not religion, and it is not complicated. Despite its Indian origin, I learned it from a Turkish colleague — sitting quietly in my parked car. She shared what she had learned from an Indian guru: the simple art of following the breath.

That’s how meditation truly spreads — one calm soul passing the flame of awareness to another.

In the early days, meditation can feel confusing. What am I doing? or even Am I doing anything at all?
Well, that’s the precise point — not to do anything. Let the mind settle. It will wander, resist, and tempt you to give up — that’s normal.

There are a few simple tools that make it easier to begin:

Image lock — Focus on one image, real or imagined, and gently bring your attention back each time it drifts.
Time lock — Choose a small, regular time each day to sit — even five minutes — and stick to it.
Space lock — Use the same corner or chair so the mind begins to associate it with quiet. You’d be amazed how much is happening within you once the noise of the mind subsides.

Observe your breath — Sit quietly, even on your couch, and simply follow your breath. Inhale and exhale. Watch the air move in and out, feel your body absorb and release.
Let thoughts drift — Allow your thoughts to sail away like passing clouds. You don’t have to control them. Just watch, pause, and let them go.

In time, meditation becomes part of life itself — in traffic, at work, even in moments of worry.

Meditation doesn’t remove life’s chaos — it changes how we meet it. The storms stay, but we learn to stand still within them.

(If you haven’t read Part 1 —  The Still Mind: Why We Need Meditation More Than Ever— you may find it a good place to start.)

🕉️ Meditation for beginners isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence. Start small, stay consistent, and you’ll soon discover how mindfulness transforms not just your calm, but your clarity, focus, and joy in everyday life.