We thank you for the past year and wish you success and good health for the year 2025!
In the year-end greeting, psychologist Marjukka Laurola offers guidance on how to tune the mind to the frequency of presence.
Tuning the Mind to the Frequency of Presence
Presence and pausing in the moment are the most valuable gifts we can give to ourselves and others.
The beauty and the curse of the human mind is its ability to move between the past and the future. We give up most of our capacity to things that take us out of the present without realizing it. In the rush of life, we see only black and white; it is only by pausing that the shades and nuances begin to emerge.
The essence of presence is not to try to control or force things into a mold in every moment. Life’s beautiful moments happen when they happen. Our task is to keep our minds open and create a window for them through our presence.
In moments of presence, the possibility of happiness shimmers: when we play with a child or a puppy, let music flow through us, immerse ourselves in a movie, or watch an exciting football match. Or when we knit woolen socks, solve a crossword puzzle, build a birdhouse, or knead bread dough.
By pausing, we create space for ourselves and strengthen our connection with both ourselves and others. Presence not only allows us to notice beautiful moments but also enables creativity, empathy, and learning. In a state of presence, we do not just look but truly see; we do not just listen but truly hear. Presence allows you to be enchanted and enraptured — both of which are scientifically proven to be the best antidotes to cynicism.
With small everyday actions, we can train our minds toward presence. You could try, for example:
- Taking five deep, slow breaths.
- Spending moments without your phone, emails, or social media.
- Noticing three beautiful things during transitions (e.g., on your commute)
- Focusing on truly listening when talking to someone. Don’t plan your reply; instead, be present with their words. Observe, what happens.
- Consciously directing your mind toward noticing the good. What was the best moment of your day? Of your week? Who was a part of it?
- Paying attention to what you see, hear, and feel on your skin when in nature. How do the leaves rustle, or how does the light shimmer on the snow?
In a state of presence, even the smallest things feel wonderfully significant. In these moments, something manages to flow into us and touch us – we feel more alive.
– Marjukka Laurola