How Present are You?
The theme of ‘presence’ has been cropping up all over the place this week and I need to talk about it.
In my yoga class my teacher encouraged us to become aware of the sensations in the body in order to be fully present, even in moments of discomfort - trust me, the moments of discomfort were plentiful - and then embracing the comfort of releasing the posture. (There’s more on that that I’d like to discuss, but I’ll save that for next week).
I noticed in one of the classes I taught this week that there was a person who stood out in particular who could not be present. Fidgety, checking their watch (I’m desperately trying not to be offended by that one) and frequently doing something totally different to the rest of the class, and as I battled with my struggling ego, I also wondered what might be on their mind that’s taking them away from being in the room.
With my coaching clients I’ve spoken about:
The desire to need to be onto the next thing
A feeling of wasting time
Wanting to be somewhere else, and due to that, unable to connect to the people we are with
Being in a transitional period, full of discomfort, longing to be on the other side, in the next chapter, in a place of comfort.
In my own life… well, my mood can be a bit funky (an understatement) when it’s grey and cold and dark. I’m done with winter now and am desperate for a little bit of warmth. I’m not asking for hot Indian sun, just the kind of weather where I can throw on my denim jacket and not scrunch my shoulders to my ears. But even on the cold, grey days great things are happening, but I risk letting them pass me by as I wish to be somewhere else.
When we struggle to be present in the moment, we deny ourselves depth of experience, peace, and connection.
So, I’ll share with you some wisdom from a wonderful client of mine on how to bring yourself back into the present when you find yourself mentally wandering into the past or present…
Catch the signs: is your mind wandering or your body fidgety?
If so, ask yourself 'are you happy doing what you’re doing right now?'
If the answer is yes, settle in, refocus, enjoy.
If the answer is no, change something.
The other thing that’s really resonated with me this week is to embrace impermanence. To recognise that everything in life is transient and subject to change. By embracing the impermanence of each moment, you can develop a greater appreciation for the here and now. Rather than clinging to the past or anxiously grasping for the future, understanding that the present moment is all we ever truly have, and even in its transition and impermanence it is full of valuable and beautiful experiences.
When we bring ourselves back into the present and embrace the power of now, we reduce stress and anxiety, improve our relationships, enhance the enjoyment of life, and gain a deeper connection to self.
“Life gives you plenty of time to do whatever you want to do if you stay in the present moment.” - Deepak Chopra
Wishing you a lovely week! And as always, if you'd like to discuss this more I'm here for you. Drop me an email or click here to chat.