Presence.
We know the importance of it by now. Living in the present has been shown to make life so much more enjoyable. The present moment is all that we have.
But how do we actually do it?
I'm not going to tell you to get outside or turn off your phone (though that helps). And I'm not even going to tell you to meditate. All of the tips below are meant to be enjoyed with your eyes open.
Let's be.
1. Breathe.
Notice the breath coming in... notice the breath going out.
Become aware of your breath.
Breathe.
2. Tune into your senses.
What do you taste right now?
What do you feel on your skin?
What do you see around you?
What kinds of sounds are you hearing?
What do you smell in the air?
This is mindfulness.
By truly noticing what you currently taste, feel, smell, hear and see - you are here.
3. Let thoughts pass.
We have between 60,000 and 80,000 thoughts per day. 95% of those are repeating thoughts. Approximately 48,000 of all our thoughts are negative, which shows us how many detrimental things are running through our minds. Of course thoughts serve purpose and we needn't make our minds the enemy. Simply become more aware of the thoughts that come in that keep us from living in the present moment and allow the rest to pass.
4. Make eye contact.
We spend a lot of time disconnected from the present moment - and especially from each other. A way to truly tune in to the people around you and listen deeper is by making eye contact. If you're on Zoom/Skype/FaceTime, that means actually looking at them, not yourself (yes, we're all guilty of this). We can really empathize and understand better this way, which means we're actually here for the conversation, the person, and the moment.
5. Stand tall.
Posture has more to do with presence than you'd think. It helps you own your space, expand your lungs, build confidence and settle into the moment better.
If you're standing, stand taller.
If you're sitting, sit taller.
Be here.
