On Space, Presence, and Love

Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity and privilege of understanding myself at a deeper level. I have spent a lot of time in contemplation, figuring out what makes me tick. Over time, this process has taught me a few quiet lessons: the importance of space, the meaning of presence, and how both have shaped my understanding of love.

I started this journey by observing my emotions. When a heavy emotion, for example sadness, arose in me, I did not try to fix the emotion or distract myself from it. I felt the emotion. I noticed how my body reacted to it. In turn, I started creating space for my emotions.

By inner space, I mean the ability to slow down, feel my emotions, and stay with them instead of immediately reacting to them. Observing emotions, and staying with them without trying to push them away, required my mind to slow down. It required me to feel and see things more clearly. By simply observing, the inner space expanded.

As my inner world became less agitated, I started seeing the outer world with less agitation too. The external world began to feel like a mirror of the internal world.

As this inner space expanded, I began to notice the difference between trying and flowing. For most of my life, I strived. I tried really hard to succeed, to please others, and to win at all costs. It was a mindset of struggle. I had internalized that I had to suffer and try really hard in order to succeed.

As I understood myself more honestly, I began to see that it was not about suffering, but rather about flowing. The difference was being — accepting myself completely as I am in this very moment. From that acceptance arose a sense of peace. The agitation reduced, and there was compassion and inner strength.

There is nothing to achieve. I already am.

Instead of trying to evaluate whether others liked me, it became about showing up completely as I am. If people did not like me, or if things did not work out, it was okay. It was not the end of the world.

There was an inner power in this. Energy was no longer being spent trying to please. The restlessness reduced, and there was a deeper feeling of belonging.

All of these lessons culminated in compassion and love. Recently, in June 2026, I came to India to visit my aging grandparents. My grandmother was ill and had difficulty breathing. I sat with her, not speaking, just being in her presence.

In that moment, something clicked. I did not have to do anything. I did not have to say anything. I just had to be with her and feel my own emotions as they arose. What arose was pure love and happiness — the simple feeling of wishing her well and wishing her happiness.

As my inner space expanded, I was able to provide full attention to the people around me without distraction. As I felt less need to prove myself to others, I started listening without judging or interrupting.

Because of this, I was truly able to give attention and see people as they are. This was presence. Accepting them as they are naturally gave way to love and compassion: wishing the best for them without expecting anything more.