Before you dive into a longer meditation, take a moment to check in with your mind. Where are you at right now? To ground yourself in the present, it can help to ask a few simple questions, ones that bring you into direct contact with what's unfolding inside you.

Start with this: What are you feeling? Can you connect with that? It could be an emotion or a sensation in your body—maybe you're feeling calm, agitated, tired, or even in pain. Don’t try to fix or change it, just notice. Can you simply be with what’s here, in this moment?

Inspired by the words of Pema Chödrön.