We often understand mindfulness as a path toward stress-reduction or spiritual awakening. But mindfulness can also create a foundation for intimate relationships.
Being present means noticing what we’re experiencing inside now. In his popular book Wherever You Go, There You Are, Jon Kabat-Zinn writes:
Mindfulness means that we commit fully in each moment to be present; inviting ourselves to interface with this moment in full awareness.
Being aware of what is happening in the present moment creates a conducive climate for intimacy. Love and connection cannot be forced or manipulated; it can’t be forged through an act of will. The only power we have is to create an environment where love and intimacy are more likely to arise. Such a climate is fostered by being present with what we’re experiencing inside and taking courageous, intelligent risks to share that experience with people we want to be close to.
