PRESENCE OVER PATTERN

PRESENCE OVER PATTERN
– A Story of Real Change

In a world overflowing with quick fixes and escape routes, one person found healing not through resistance, but through loving awareness.

This real life story explores how conscious presence unraveled a 25 year smoking habit, proving that transformation doesn’t require force, it just requires our attention.

Modern life moves fast full of pressures, conflicts, and unexpected events. These stress triggers make individuals often get into risky behaviors like drugs, alcohol, food or scrolling through endless distractions to soothe themselves. These create dopamine release in the brain creating a fleeting sense of pleasure or calm But as stress becomes chronic, the brain craves for more of that relief, reinforcing that behavior and thus the person gets into addiction.

Once addiction sets in, it doesn’t just affect behavior, it influences emotions, and can lead to serious physical and mental consequences.There is a way to interrupt this cycle not through force or shame, but through awareness and conscious presence.

Conscious presence is the practice of being fully attentive and aware in the present moment without judgment or distraction. It means tuning into our sensations, thoughts, and emotions as they arise, and choosing to stay with the experience instead of escaping it. The Practice of conscious presence is a powerful way to transformation.

A dear friend of mine had been smoking for 25 years. She had heard countless warnings from doctors, each one escalating her anxiety. The feelings of anxiety started increasing her cigarette use. She was desperate to stop, but didn’t know how.

When she shared her struggle with me, I didn’t offer advice or judgment. I simply invited her to love what she was doing. To be fully present with each cigarette. To enjoy every one of those cigarettes completely, and give thanks for the feeling they gave, to literally consciously be there with the cigarette, address it, communicate with it and thank it for the comfort it brought.

She began smoking consciously, no longer out of compulsion, but with intention. Slowly, the habit started clearing up. Each day, she smoked less. After two months, she had forgotten to smoke altogether. And now, two years later, even among friends who smoke, she feels no desire.

Her relationship with smoking became a kind of meditation. In her own words she told me that the cigarettes had taught her how to walk through life consciously.

When we meet our habits with awareness rather than resistance, they lose their grip.

Conscious presence doesn’t fight addictions, it transforms the space in which addiction thrives. Conscious presence does not demand perfection, it invites us to choose curiosity, gratitude, self love and self compassion.

My friend’s story reminds us that even the most ingrained habits can dissolve when met with gentle awareness, love, gratitude and attention.

In meeting our patterns with conscious presence, we begin to discover the profound truth of our innate capacity to grow, heal, and flourish as extraordinary beings.
Blessings!
Premlatha Rajkumar
https://awakenlovenjoy.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@lattha9100

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