May 20, 2022.
In a world where we’ve been trained to think about the next big thing, it’s so easy to get caught up in the future. Sometimes we are still healing from the past and our focus remains there. How can we practice presence and why is it important?
Why is it important to practice presence?
There are many benefits to being present in your own life and fully aware of this very moment. When you are present, you can enjoy the moment to the fullest. You will experience less stress and it improves quality of life. You can be present for yourself and those that you love. You can learn more about yourself: what makes you happy, what makes you sad, what moves you, what fears you have, etc. There is a sense of control that presence brings. Perhaps you may have experienced this before. When you focus on the past, does it not feel as though life is happening to you and around you in an overwhelming way? The mind solves problems better when worry of the future or disapproval of the past is not in the equation.
How can we practice presence?
Meditation: Meditation is one way to practice presence. There are many meditation methods, and you can pick the one that works for you. There is a practice in which you silence your thoughts, which is a lot harder and takes time because you could end up focusing on the fact that you are thinking. The one I like is where you focus on one thing, such as your breathwork. In addition, you observe the thoughts and let them play in your head without resistance or judgement.
Breathing Exercises: This can be done as part of meditation or separate. As you focus on your breath, you are paying attention to right here and right now.
Environmental Awareness: The other method would be to look around you and describe what you see. There are many variations of this. An example would be to name 4 things you see, 4 things you smell, 4 things you can touch and so forth.
Participating in Activities: There are activities that encourage presence such as painting, and some sports and games. These can be good to get your mind off the future and the past.
Question of the day:
- What portion of my day am I present in my own frame?
Comment your thoughts and share with a friend who might benefit from reading this!