A gentle reminder to return to the moment when your mind feels heavy.
I was having one of those moments where you just feel flat and heavy for no particular reason. In an attempt to escape the heaviness in my heart, I took myself for a walk. The more I walked, the more aware I became of the busyness going on in my mind. It was a cluster of thoughts clouding my awareness.
I was thinking about the past. Dwelling on mistakes I’d made, things I wished hadn’t happened, and moments I longed to relive.
Reliving the past was clouding the present with disappointment and dullness. I was dampening the now by letting my mind distract me with thoughts of what had been.
Then I caught myself — and a phrase floated to the front of my mind:
Be where your feet are.
I started to separate myself from the stream of thoughts and became more aware of my surroundings. I noticed the trees and water in my view, I felt the breeze on my skin and the ground beneath my feet. My senses — sight, touch, hearing — gently brought me back into the present moment.
And I realised: life is actually really good, right here.
I felt inspired to write this Inner Beauty Ritual because being where your feet are is one of the simplest, yet most difficult, things to do.
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the past — to judge ourselves for what we’ve done, to feel hurt by what’s happened, or to cling to memories and beliefs that no longer serve us.
But the past is over. It only has power if we give it our thoughts.
When we let go of the past, we free up so much energy. Energy we can use to harness the magic of the moment in front of us. Our power is in the present.
Imagine what becomes possible when we create from here, rather than replay what’s already been.
As I walked, the more I focused on my surroundings, the lighter I felt. The heaviness lifted. I started thinking about what excited me, what I wanted to create, and what I loved. My mind was no longer foggy. I was no longer looking through the rearview mirror of my life.
Of course, our past holds value. There are lessons and gifts of growth woven into our experiences. But replaying the past again and again keeps us stuck.
Forgive the past. Accept what’s been. Take the lesson — and look forward.
I remember the relief I felt the first time I read these words:
Your past does not define you.
I had been judging and criticising myself harshly. I measured my worth by my past mistakes. If that’s where you are right now, please know: you can choose again, in this very moment.
This moment is your canvas. You can use it to dwell in the past, or you can use it to create, uplift, and appreciate.
Letting go of the past is how we turn the page — and begin a whole new story.
Inner Beauty Ritual: How to Practice Being Where Your Feet Are
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Observe your thoughts
Become the observer behind your mind. Watch your thoughts like passing clouds — notice them, without attaching. -
Use your senses
Ask: What can I see, hear, touch, taste, or smell right now? Let your senses anchor you into the present. -
Notice your breath
Feel your inhale. Feel your exhale. Return to this rhythm whenever your mind begins to wander.
You get to choose how you live this moment.
Once I got to the end of my walk, I felt lighter — and I felt ready to create. So I sat down to write this.
I hope this Inner Beauty Ritual helps you release the weight of the past and return to the beautiful simplicity of now.
Let go of your thoughts about what’s been. Let go of what is yet to come.
Take all of that energy — and bring it back into the only moment you ever truly have: this one.