The Importance Of Being Present.
“What day is it?” asked Pooh. “It’s today,” squeaked Piglet. “My favourite day,” said Pooh”
This blog is inspired by two things; Winnie the Pooh and a film I watched recently. It’s called About Time and (spoiler alert!) the main character can travel back in time. The big takeaway from the film is that if he could do it (life) again (which he technically could!) he would make sure he enjoyed the small things and moments of joy every day, i.e. being fully present. So…
What is Presence?
Being fully present is the idea that one can, in any given moment, be free from an internal dialogue that is focussing on other things and meaning focus is not on what is happening here and now. It's about being aware of your thoughts and emotions without getting caught up in regrets or worries about the past or future. In coaching conversations, I often see clients stuck in past regrets or mixed up in future anxieties, resulting in a racing mind that fuels anxiety, fear, and stress.
Why Presence Matters
When you are present, you fully experience the moment you are in, moments you can never get back! Sometimes the moments we are in are joyful and happy, therefore easier to experience. Sometimes the moments we are in are difficult and painful. It is important for us to experience both, so that we can learn and grow from these experiences.
Being present can also help to alleviate unnecessary stress, anxiety and overwhelm that we cause for ourselves by worrying about things that are outside of our control. A study has also found that people who live in the present are happier than those who do not.
Learning How To Be Present
Being able to experience presence is a skill that needs to be developed, let’s call it mental fitness. Much like physical fitness, mental fitness needs to be practised and built over time. To help develop mental fitness in presence, try these practices:
Journaling - Bring journaling into your daily routine… note patterns of when you are not present, what you were thinking about, what value that brought to you and what you missed by not being in the moment.
Meditation - Close your eyes and focus on your breath and body sensations. If you find your mind wandering, bring your focus back to the breath. Guided meditation apps such as Headspace and Calm are great resources to help with this.
In the moment awareness - When you catch yourself not being present, take 3 deep breaths and come back to what is going on right now. Observe what is real… how your body feels, what you can taste & smell, what you can see and hear. Be more like Pooh!
Conclusion
In summary, even with the ability to time travel, the main lesson remains: cherish every moment, no matter how big or small. Don't let past regrets or future worries steal your presence. You'll never get this day back.
If you can bring more presence to your life, you will reduce stress, anxiety and overwhelm. You will bring more focus and intentionality to what you are doing and will not let life pass you by. This will result in strengthened relationships, better performance at work, more enjoyment of life and perhaps most importantly… happiness. Sounds good right?!