When I am present, I am neither in the past nor the future—I am just here.

While the previous tip focused on connecting with my environment, this one is about being present to myself.

Being present to myself is a different state than when I am active. 
It is still about being in my body, not in my head, but this time the focus is on how I feel inside. It’s about connecting with myself, not with what’s around me.

This practice invites me into a very deep and profound relationship with myself. It is an addictive one too—because when I am present for myself, I have my full attention and care. These are precious moments where I can fully be myself, accepting and loving who I am. There is no judgment, no opinions about who I should become, and no thoughts about where I come from. It is all about enjoying being alive. It is about being happy to exist, here, in the moment.

Be aware that this tip takes time to anchor. Most likely, it will take days before I begin to experience this state —and in the meantime, all sorts of thoughts may arise, such as
- “This isn’t working.”
- “I can’t do this.”
- “This requires some sort of superpower or deep concentration I don’t have.”

These are distractions. I must ignore them.

I have everything I need. This is accessible to me, just as it is to anyone else. All I need to do is keep practicing. The only way to fail is to give up—and I’m not giving up. so I already have my answer: I will get there. I just need to be patient.

To practice “being,” I need a quiet and safe place where I can relax.
I can lie down or sit comfortably, but I shall not stand. I can be alone or with others, but the environment must be calm and distraction-free, so I can focus entirely on myself.

Once I’m in this space, I want to close my eyes.
I shall tell myself to empty my mind of thoughts.
I shall slowly repeat the word “empty” in my head, letting moments of silence linger in between repetitions. These pauses must remain empty—no thoughts should intrude.

If it helps, I can synchronize this with my breathing:
As I exhale, say to myself in my head the word “empty.”
Hold my breath briefly
Inhale in silence
Hold my breath again, and as I exhale, repeat “empty.”
Focus entirely on this process. If I catch myself thinking (because I inevitably will), I’ll interrupt my thoughts and return to the practice.

What happens next is priceless. 

Nature abhors a vacuum—so as I create space being empty, something else will naturally fill it.
Because I’m not thinking, it is a feeling that will rise to fill the space I’ve created. 
It’s warm and powerful, coming from deep inside me. It’s something I may never have experienced before, something I didn’t even know was there. I don’t know where it originates, but I do know it feels good. It feels strong.

Each time my thoughts return, this feeling will retreat, replaced by the noise in my head.

But I can always return to the practice: create space again, and the feeling will rise once more. 
When it does, I shall simply stay with it—no thinking, no judgment—just feeling and enjoying the experience. This is a gift to myself: one that has always been there, waiting for me to discover it.
Some name this feeling "unconditional love" —and that description comes the closest to capturing its essence.

Again - the more I practice, the easier it will become.
I’ll find it easier to focus and remain focused for longer periods of time. The feeling will appear more quickly, grow stronger, and stay with me longer.

This is my journey into being fully present for myself. It brings a strong sense of inner peace and comfort, and enables my personal growth quietly but surely, in the background.