Being Present is where we find clarity, connection and contentment.
"Life gives you plenty of time to do whatever you want to do if you stay in the present moment.”
—Deepak Chopra
In a world full of distractions, it’s easy to forget that life happens in the present. Too often, we find ourselves caught in the whirlwind of thoughts, worries, and plans, neglecting that the only moment we have is now. To live fully, we must return to the present.
Living In The Body
Our minds are powerful tools, each its own unique little world with mountains of thoughts, valleys of lost memories, rivers of imagination. Filled with crevices one can too easily get lost in. We’re absent from our bodies without even realizing it.
Living in the body is about fully inhabiting your physical self, engaging with the world through your senses, and being present in each moment. It means feeling the grass beneath your feet, the air on your skin, and the rhythm of your breath. It’s consciously tasting your food, hearing the sounds around you, and absorbing the colors of the world. Being present by tuning into the sensations and experiences that are happening right now, allowing us to fully engage with life as it unfolds. Giving value to the small moments in life.
Living in The Head
The truth is, many people live locked in the cage of their minds. Going through the day with a whirlwind of thoughts constantly swirling in their mind, bills to be paid, kids’ soccer practice, co-worker disputes, what to make for dinner tonight. Never pausing to take in the present moment. Not living here.
I have wasted much time lost in crevasses in my mind. Always, multitasking, dividing my attention between fully experiencing the now and the anxieties running through my mind. Worrying about a project at work, a comment I made earlier that I think might have come across as rude, whether I’ve replied to all my emails, or even the risk I took with my outfit today—mini distractions that pull my attention in this direction and that. Never simply being.
“Just this moment, just this breath, just this sitting here, just this being human. Just this. Just this.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn
Jon Kabat-Zinn makes it seem so easy. But taking little moments every day to really absorb the present, to pause the rush and say 'Here I am, this is now,' can transform the way we experience life. It’s about being intentional. Being present is about focusing on what we CAN do now, and living our lives - instead of worrying, regretting, judging, or shaming ourselves and others.
Here are some other hacks I've learned along the way about living in the body and being present:
Hack 1: Use sensory details to ground yourself. Focus on what you see, taste, hear, and smell. Connect with your body: How do you feel physically? How does your breath feel?
As Kelle Yokeley puts it, “The path to presence is through our mind-body connection—our path is through our breath. The breath is ALWAYS the here and now, it is the ultimate present moment… Our breath is our constant connection to the here and now, and our presence is rooted in its flow.” By tuning into your breath, you deepen your connection to the present moment.
Hack 2: Be curious! Approach life with an unknowing, removing the boundaries of what you think is going to happen. Curiosity to learn. Curiosity to change with time. Curiosity in what every new day can bring. You never know what the universe has waiting for you if you're paying attention!
Hack 3: Gratitude. We all knew it was coming, right? Homework time: At the end of each day, write down something you want to remember that day. One good moment that day that brought a smile to your face. It doesn't have to be long. No more than a sentence or two if you wish. Just one thing you're grateful to have experienced that day.
Hack 4: Connect to the moment with emotion! Care about what you're doing. Care about the grocery store trip. Care about that cup of coffee. Care about the conversation. Place value on these little moments, because life is full of them!
Here’s the truth: little moments matter. It’s in these small, everyday experiences that life truly happens. By embracing the present, grounding ourselves in sensory details, nurturing curiosity, practicing gratitude, and connecting emotionally to our daily activities, we can shift our focus from the chaos of our minds to the richness of our lived experiences.
It's a constant practice. The present requires your attention! Don’t live without experiencing the world! This moment right here is where we find clarity, connection, and contentment. So, take a deep breath, look around, and fully engage with the now—because this moment is where life unfolds.