🔭 The Present Perspective Newsletter

😁 The happiness we keep overlooking—the delight of being.

We spend much of our lives searching for happiness in what we can do, achieve or acquire. Yet mindfulness gently reveals that there is another source of wellbeing that has been quietly available all along—the simple delight of being.

"The little things? The little moments? They aren't little."
— Jon Kabat-Zinn
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Dear Reader

As human beings, we have an extraordinary capacity to experience pleasure. There are the pleasures of the senses: delicious food, beautiful music, physical intimacy, the warmth of touch, the smell of fresh rain or coffee.
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We also experience emotional pleasures such as joy, excitement, love and contentment. Certain states of mind feel wonderful too, like becoming completely absorbed in something we enjoy, or resting in a calm and quiet mind.

Life itself offers an infinite number of opportunities for enjoyment. We can find pleasure in creating, travelling, learning, raising a family, sharing time with others, meaningful work, sport, books, films, nature and hobbies. There are countless ways in which life can be rich, engaging and deeply satisfying.

These experiences assist our appreciation of life. A life without pleasure or enjoyment would be incredibly difficult. The conditions of our lives clearly matter. Physical safety, emotional security, good health and sufficient financial resources all support our ability to enjoy life.
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More money often creates more choices although research consistently shows that beyond a certain point, additional wealth adds surprisingly little to our overall happiness. A reasonable level of financial security matters. Beyond that, the relationship between money and wellbeing becomes much weaker.

Meditators and contemplatives, however, have discovered something immensely curious about pleasure. It runs completely counter to how many of us may have spent our lives before coming to meditation.

We usually assume that pleasure comes from doing something, achieving something or acquiring something.

Yet, as meditators, we discover that simply being is itself deeply pleasurable.

Feeling the breath moving through the body. Hearing the sounds around us.
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Sensing the aliveness of this moment.

We often discover a deep ease and relaxation. There is a profound intimacy with ourselves and the life unfolding around us. It can feel sweet and joyful and even euphoric.

What is remarkable is that this isn’t created by external circumstances. It arises naturally as the mind settles and we stop constantly chasing pleasant experiences or resisting unpleasant ones.
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As our meditation practice deepens, this becomes increasingly compelling because it simply feels good.
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We become less dependent on our thoughts, emotions or circumstances being a certain way before we can experience wellbeing.

Of course there is nothing at all wrong with the pleasures of ordinary life. Mindfulness and meditation are not about giving them up or making them wrong. If anything, mindfulness enhances our feeling and capacity for pleasure and enjoyment.
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Food tastes richer. Music sounds fuller. Time with loved ones feels more intimate. We become more available for life because we are more fully present for it.

We get to have our cake and eat it too!
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We continue to enjoy the countless pleasures that everyday life offers while also discovering a deeper wellbeing that doesn’t depend so heavily on circumstances.
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That discovery lessens the compulsion and stress of constantly seeking the next enjoyable experience.

We begin to realise that simply being alive is enough. Beneath all the doing, striving and searching is a quiet contentment that has been available all along.

We get to enjoy the simple delight of being.

Supporting our sponsor "1440", supports Mindfulness Works.

💗 Awakening to Self-Love
6-Day Silent Meditation Retreat, ​Healesville ​Victoria. ​3–8 October, 2026​

The essence of your self-love is woven into the fabric of the universe.

It is integral to you. It just requires the right environment to emerge.

The Awakening to Self-Love, Silent Meditation Retreat provides that environment.

“It was like a balm for the soul.” — Carmel Brock

“I loved the silence, the meditative rhythm of the day and the beautiful food. A perfect environment to go deeply within and touch the universal energy of love while doing important inner work.” — Dr Lisa Shortridge

“I loved the retreat, the silence was great… Stephen and Karl are very down to earth, knowledgeable and surprisingly funny 😊 I found the whole experience very humbling, calming, restful, informative and soul fulfilling.” — Belinda Dubojski

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​Teachers: Karl Baker and Stephen Archer
​Location: Maitripa Retreat Centre, Healesville
​Dates: Saturday, 3 October – Thursday, 8 October 2026
​Price: $1,950 all inclusive. Book now with a $500 deposit (non-refundable)

💗 The Ease of Being, Luxury Weekend Retreat, Noosa, 11–13 September​ 2026 — ONLY 1 PLACE LEFT ​

When was the last time you truly stopped, breathed, and let yourself simply be?

This premium three-day meditation retreat offers a rare opportunity to step away from the noise and into a world of effortless relaxation, deep presence and quiet luxury.

“The Ease of Being retreat gave me the gift of a weekend filled with peace and calm – time out in a beautiful, natural setting away from the demands of everyday life.” — Christine Donnelly​
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​Book your place now with a $250 deposit.
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Teacher: Karl Baker
​Location: Senses Beach Rd Holiday Homes, Noosa North Shore
​Date: Friday, 11 September – Sunday, 13 September 2026
​Price: From $895 all inclusive: Only one place left.

​🧘‍♂️Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation
4-Week Course — BUDERIM​

Reduce anxiety, improve sleep and increase self-acceptance with this practical, evidence-based beginners mindfulness course in Buderim.

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Facilitated by certified mindfulness teacher, Michelle Eckles, over 40,000 people have participated in this course.
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​When: 7, 21, 28 July and 4 August (there is no class on 14 July) 6.30pm – 7.30pm (AEST)
​Where: Buderim
​Price: $198
​See details and book: https://events.humanitix.com/introduction-to-mindfulness-and-meditation-course​
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​🧘‍♂️Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation
4-Week Course — BULIMBA, Brisbane​

Reduce anxiety, improve sleep and increase self-acceptance with this practical, evidence-based beginners mindfulness course in Buderim.

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Facilitated by certified mindfulness teacher, Jade Lee, over 40,000 people have participated in this course.
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​When: 4 x Tuesday evenings, 14 July – 4 August (6.30pm– 7.30pm)
​Where: Bulimba, Brisbane
​Price: Enter promo code MWORKS40, to save 40%. Attend for only $102​
​See details and book: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/introduction-to-mindfulness-and-meditation-4-week-course-bulimba-tickets-1975704761125?​
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Remember to enter promo code: MWORKS40.
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​Get one on one, private Mindfulness Coaching​

One on one work with a certified mindfulness teacher can assist with anxiety reduction, improving sleep, reducing over-thinking, improving relationships and making mindfulness a habit in your life.

​Find a certified mindfulness teacher to work with now.

🧘‍♀️ Mini Mindfulness Exercise: Mini mindfulness exercise (5–10 minutes) — The Delight of Simply Being

This practice isn’t about achieving a particular state. Instead, it’s an invitation to discover what is already here when we stop trying to improve this moment.
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​1. Arrive (1 minute) Sit comfortably and allow your body to settle. Feel the weight of your body being supported by the chair or the floor. There is nowhere else you need to be.

2. Open to the Senses (2 minutes) Rather than focusing on your thoughts, become interested in your senses. Notice sounds arriving and fading. Feel the contact of your clothing on your skin. Become aware of the gentle movement of the breath. Let yourself simply receive experience.

3. Notice the Background of Ease (3 minutes) Without trying to create anything, ask yourself:

“Is there already a small sense of ease here?”

You don’t need a dramatic answer. Even the slightest feeling of being settled is enough. Rest there for a few breaths.

4. Let Go of Needing This Moment to Change (2 minutes) For just a minute or two, allow everything to be exactly as it is. Thoughts can come and go. Feelings can come and go.

Notice what happens when you stop trying to make this moment better.

5. Finish with Appreciation (1 minute)
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Before opening your eyes, simply acknowledge:

“Perhaps there is more goodness here than I usually notice.”

Carry that curiosity with you into the rest of your day.
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Why this exercise helps

Much of our nervous system is organised around solving problems and seeking the next rewarding experience. This practice gently interrupts that habit. Rather than searching for wellbeing somewhere else, we learn to recognise moments of ease that are already present. Over time, this reduces the pressure to continually chase happiness and helps cultivate a quieter, more stable sense of contentment.

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Nationwide in-person or online mindfulness training for workplaces.
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– Build team mental and emotional resilience.
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Why this reflection matters
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Many of our most nourishing moments aren't planned. Instead, they catch us by surprise. By noticing where these moments already occur, we're more likely to recognise and savour them in the future. Mindfulness isn't about creating a better life from scratch; it's also about noticing the pleasure and enjoyment that's already woven into ordinary experience.

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