Many people tell me mindfulness is hard. And I think it’s true, especially in the context of our world today.
It asks us to swim against the current of modern life — one that trains us to move fast, react quickly, and fill every moment with something to do.
Mindfulness, on the other hand, asks us to pause, to soften, to pay attention with care and patience. It invites us to be with what is, even when what is feels uncomfortable.
No wonder it feels like work, and sometimes very hard work.
But hard does not mean impossible.
Every moment we choose to notice a breath, return from distraction, or stay with discomfort instead of running away — these are small revolutions, little shifts that slowly reshape the mind and transform our lives.
And slowly but surely, they lead us somewhere. Toward ease, toward clarity, toward the “other shore,” as the teachings say — that place inside us where true freedom lives.
So when your practice feels heavy, remember this: every step matters. Every moment of awareness quietly lays another stone on the path toward the life you choose to live.
It’s hard, yes. But it’s not impossible.
May we be gentle with ourselves, even when practice feels hard.
May we find ease in each moment of effort.
May we remember that every step we take on this path matters.
May we cross the river of chaos to the shore of peace.
In this Take A Pause session recorded live on 14 September 2025, the TAP community reflected on the possibilities of our practice and how we are reclaiming our agency in choosing the way we live with each moment of mindful awareness.
We closed the session by sending ourselves some loving kindness, and listening to the poem ‘Even If It’s The Hardest Thing To Do’ by Hakim F. Mansaray.
Meditation begins: 10:23
Reading begins: 30:51
Meditation duration: 20 minutes
Pick Up Your Copy
Take A Pause: Waking Up To A Life Of Clarity
The first print edition of Take A Pause is now available at The Zall Bookstore at Wheelock Place, Orchard, Singapore.
You are also invited to attend the book release event on 6th December 2025 at The Zall Bookstore, and have your copy signed by Erin!
TAKE A PAUSE BOOK RELEASE
WHEN: Saturday 6 December 2025, 3 pm SGT
WHERE: The Zall Bookstore, 501 Orchard Road, Wheelock Place, #02-18, Singapore 238880
