Being Present, Part #1: The Why

Most humans are never fully present in the now because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one. But then you miss your whole life which is never not now.

Eckhart Tolle

Hi! Welcome to the first (of many) parts in my mini-series about Growth Setting and becoming our best selves. Today we will focus on the benefits and skill of being present.

In the simplest terms, being present means being here and now. It’s about focusing on one conversation, one task, or one project at a time.

So, what are the benefits of being present?

1. Improve Relationships – You can make more meaningful connections when you are present. One big reason is because you are able to practice active listening, which tells the other person that you find what they are saying important and that you are building a deeper understanding. I mean, don’t we all want to be heard and understood?
   
2. Reduce Stress/Manage Anxiety – Being present in the moment helps stop that overthinking – the one where you ruminate over the past and feel anxious about the future. With this comes more self-acceptance and the ability to see that you are exactly where you are meant to be in that moment.
   
3. Enhance Focus – Strengthen your concentration and filter out distractions by focusing on that one task, project, or conversation at a time.
   
4. Practice Self-Awareness/Self-Management – Become more aware of your feelings and emotions and the way you act/react to situations.

All good stuff, right? Now, I am sure there are many more benefits to staying present, but those listed above are a few of the ones I felt were most valuable.

Join me next week as we check out WAYS to practice the skill of being present. I will be providing printables/pdfs for you to print out and use – and I will be putting them into my own practice in the meantime (I want to make sure they are good)!

For now, sending you all the good vibes…
~S~