🔭 The Present Perspective Newsletter

🫂 The Return of Spontaneity, Play and Creativity

Somewhere along the way, many of us forget how alive we felt when we played, explored and created without hesitation. Yet that quiet spark never disappears. It waits patiently for the moment we are willing to feel it again.

“The creative adult is the child who has survived.”
— Ursula K. Le Guin

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Dear Reader

One of the joys of being human is our capacity both to be creative and to enjoy the creativity of others.

The sense of possibility and freedom that comes from creating can feel exhilarating. From an evolutionary point of view, the impulse to create makes sense. Like eating or reproduction, creativity seems hard wired into us. It helps our species adapt, and it also feels deeply pleasurable.

Children know this instinctively. They play, imagine and invent without limits. They delight in possibility and adventure. As we grow older, many of us become confined by habits and expectations. We may still enjoy the creativity of others through art, music, film or writing, but often at a distance. Our own innate creativity can feel harder to access, as if it has been covered over by responsibility and routine.

Yet the universe itself is a vast creative force. Everything we experience has come from this movement of life creating itself. It is no accident that we too have this creative potential.
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As powerful as the creative force is, there is an equal force which cautions us that any new action or activity may lead to disappointment, hurt and failure. If throughout our life, creative or risk-taking activity has led to a lot of pain or fear, then we understandably will think twice about taking any risks again.

The cost of this caution can be a life half-lived. We rob ourselves of the joy of creating and of the adventure of the new. We cling to patterns that feel steady and safe. Yet when we look with honesty, we see that this steadiness is an illusion. Everything changes. We change. Life moves. Trying to hold on to what has been eventually becomes exhausting, and we still have to let go.

Mindfulness and meditation invite us to relax that grip now;
to recognise that everything shifts and moves.
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Instead of resisting this, we can use it as encouragement to fully inhabit the present moment.
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We can be creative in our lives by responding freshly to what is here now. The past loses some of its weight, and the future becomes a field of possibilities rather than a continuation of constrictive habit patterns. We begin to relate to ourselves, our relationships and our life in creative ways that feel alive.

Late in his career, the famous psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Carl Jung, began noticing that he kept collecting little stones and pieces of wood, almost without thinking about it.
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They piled up on his desk. At first he felt slightly embarrassed, as if it was childish. But the pull toward them grew stronger.
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Eventually he gave in and began arranging them, carving them, building small towers and figures. He said it felt like rediscovering something he had forgotten. This simple, almost secret return to play became a doorway into his own imagination. He then spent six months, just playing!

Many spiritual traditions speak of becoming childlike to regain the sense of openness that lets us experience the beauty of this moment.
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In doing so, like children, we enjoy a sense of possibility, freedom and joy. The world re-awakens as a place of mystery, wonder and adventure.
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We feel empowered and motivated to follow our creative instinct, bringing our unique offerings and gifts to the world.

​➕ Calm in the Himalayas – A Mindful Travelogue​

Explore the gentle world of Buddhism in Nepal and uncover everyday practices that invite more balance, clarity and calm into your life.

If you are curious about other cultures and drawn to the peaceful energy of Buddhist life, this class helps you experience a little of that calm for yourself.

Nat is going to lift the veil and share the daily practices she observes and takes part in during her annual trips to Kathmandu, the heart of Buddhism in Nepal.

Nat takes snippets of her experiences of monastic and Buddhist life in Nepal and weaves them into practical mindfulness exercises you can use to bring more peace and balance into your day.

Date: Wednesday, 10 December
​Time: 6.30pm – 7.30pm AEDT
​Price: $20 standard ticket. $35 VIP ticket (includes recording).
​Facilitator: Nat Mallia
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Please note: You do not need to be Buddhist to enjoy this workshop!
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🧘‍♀️ Mini Mindfulness Exercise: A Simple Pause for Fresh Possibility

1. Arrive in your body​
Sit comfortably and feel the weight of your body supported by the chair or the floor. Let your shoulders soften a little. Allow your breath to settle into its natural rhythm.

2. Notice what feels tight or habitual​
Gently scan your body for places that feel tense, braced, or locked into a familiar pattern. Notice without trying to fix anything. Simply acknowledge the sense of “being on autopilot.”

3. Bring attention to something enjoyable​
Let your awareness rest on something small you enjoy. A colour you like. A hobby you have not touched in a while. A simple activity that feels pleasant or interesting. Keep it very ordinary.

4. Imagine taking one easy step​
Picture yourself engaging with that enjoyable thing for a few minutes. Nothing ambitious. Just a small, doable action. Let yourself feel the ease and lightness of taking that step.

5. Return to the present moment​
Take one slower breath. Notice the sense of possibility in the body. You may feel a little more open or less weighed down. Carry this feeling into the next part of your day.

Why this helps:​
Paying attention to small sparks of enjoyment helps reset the mind from habit and self-protection into curiosity. This shift creates space for creativity, new perspectives and a fresh relationship with the present moment.

​Pre-Order The One Minute Reset, By Heidi Horne Now!​

The One-Minute Reset is for anyone overwhelmed by modern life—people who want calm, clarity and presence without needing hours of meditation or a complete lifestyle overhaul.

Author and keynote speaker, Heidi Horne loved running retreats and guiding long meditations. But after 20 years in yoga, meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, and stress science, she saw the same pattern over and over:

Sometimes people need something they can use right now to stop the stress cycle.
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Not later. Not when things calm down.
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Right now.

That’s why this book focuses on tiny, science-backed micro-resets that calm the nervous system in just 60 seconds. Practical, real-world tools that fit into your actual day—school runs, meetings, messy moments, 3.00am wake-ups, busy minds and busy lives.

Inside, you will learn:

• breathing techniques proven to reduce stress instantly.
• tools for better sleep, sharper focus and stronger self-care.
• real-world stories showing how small moments create big change.
• a full 21-Day Reset Challenge to build a personal daily practice.
• proof you don’t need hours to create meaningful transformation.

This is mindfulness made do-able.
– One minute.
– One reset.
– Real change.

WHY PREORDER?

When you preorder, you unlock over $300 of bonuses designed to help you start resetting straight away—before the book even arrives.

You’ll receive:

✔ 3 months access to the One-Minute Reset App

Your daily nervous-system support in your pocket.

✔ Early access to the 21-Day Reset Challenge

Start your reset habit now—not later.

✔ The 90-minute online masterclass

A guided, practical introduction to the tools in the book.

This means you get the book, the experience, and the tools—all working together to help you feel calmer and more in control before 2026 even begins.

It’s the best price, the earliest access, and the deepest support.

Pre-order your copy here: https://heidihorne.co/one-minute-reset-book/​

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Then register for FREE to the masterclass here: Opt-in page​

🏡 Coming Home to Yourself — 7-Day Silent Meditation Retreat, Healesville, VIC:
11–17 February, 2026​

Step into a world of calm, depth and self-love. Experience an environment of safety, silence, beauty and natural ease.

Now is the time to truly come home to yourself.
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​“A fantastic retreat to reconnect with self led by two very skilled facilitators.” — Lisa Shortridge​
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Experience a precious and profound opportunity to embrace yourself fully and unconditionally.
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Located in the serene setting of Maitripa Retreat Centre, Healesville, this retreat provides an exceptional chance for self-love, self-forgiveness and self-acceptance.

​Book your place now with a $500 deposit.​

Teachers: Karl Baker and Stephen Archer
​Location: Maitripa Retreat Centre, Healesville, Vic
​Dates: Wednesday, 11 Feb – Tuesday, 17 Feb, 2026.
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💗 Awakening to Self-Love — 6-Day Silent Meditation Retreat, Bowral, NSW:
7–12 March, 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.
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​“It was like a balm for the soul.” — Carmel Brock

The Awakening to Self-Love, Silent Meditation Retreat provides that environment.
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​Book your place now with a $500 deposit.​
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Teachers: Karl Baker and Stephen Archer
​Location: Hartzer Park Retreat Centre, Bowral, NSW
​Dates: Saturday, 7 Mar – Thursday, 12 Mar 2026
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💗 The Essence of Self-Love, Premium — 6-Day Silent Meditation Retreat, Byron Bay, NSW​, May and June 2026​

The Essence of Self-Love Retreats at Sangsurya, Byron Bay are the premium retreat offerings of 2026.
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These retreats feature incredible artisan accommodation, a stunning retreat centre setting and an on-site chef, Todd Stream-Cameron providing world-class meals.
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These retreats are highly popular and always sell out, which is why we are offering them on two dates this year.
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There are limited single rooms, with en suites available and if you are keen to attend this retreat, we recommend booking now.
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​Book your place now with a $500 deposit.​
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Teachers: Karl Baker and Stephen Archer
​Location: Sangsurya Retreat Centre, Byron Bay, NSW
​Dates:
​May Retreat: Friday, 8 May – Wednesday, 13 May 2026
​June Retreat: Friday, 19 June – Wednesday, 24 June, 2026
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🏢 Workplace Mindfulness Training

Nationwide in-person or online mindfulness training for workplaces.
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– Build team mental and emotional resilience.
– Improve mental fitness.
– Practical strategies for reducing burnout.
– Enhance team communication and connection.

​Get a customised program and free quote.
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🤔 Mindful Check-In. Vote to See Results

Reflecting on what we loved most about being a child is not just about nostalgia. It is a reminder that these qualities still exist within us and can be touched in the present moment.
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The ease of play, the natural curiosity, the ability to get absorbed in something simple, the sense of wonder that once came so freely, have never fully left.
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Mindfulness helps us recognise that these capacities are still here, beneath the habits and seriousness of adult life.
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When we turn toward them, we rediscover this childlike and creative part of ourselves is still deeply alive and available right now.

📝 Mindful Meme of The Week

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