The Power Of Presence

We hear it over and over again in the spiritual community: be present. But what does that really mean? Why is there a great importance placed on presence? What does being present actually grant you? Being present can be seen as both a tool and an opportunity. It grants you a moment of experience, awareness, and feeling. Allowing all outside or inside noise to either fade away or be fully witnessed.

Presence as a Tool

The power of presence can be life-changing. As a tool, it lets you reflect on what you’re experiencing, how you are experiencing it, and the quality of your life. What it is you want to change, but also how you can change it.

If you’re always focused on what could be, you will miss the constant opportunity to align your present self, actions, and thoughts with what you are trying to accomplish. Missing the opportunity to transform yourself. You cannot just daydream about your future. You must be present to see where you are in your life, especially mentally and emotionally. Be present for what stands in your way, the direction you need to go, and the action you need to take.

If you are trying to align with your highest and best timeline, materialize your manifestation or improve the quality of your life. How are you going to do that if you are not present?

How do you expect to enjoy life if your mind is always reaching for the future or stuck in the past, replaying situations and scenarios on a never-ending loop?

Do not be afraid of the current moment. Do not shy away from what your life looks like or feels like. You have already worked so hard to get here, so take a moment to appreciate that.

Even if you are uncomfortable with your current experience or situation, you are encouraged by the Divine to sit in it.

We came here to feel all the emotions and experience all we can, whether it’s blissful, challenging, or a lesson. One of the most spiritual things you can do is allow yourself to be human and just experience. Even if you consider it a sh!tty one.

News flash!

Life is happening now; it does not start once you reach your goal.

Expanding on the Present Moment

Asking yourself questions can be more transformative than people realize. Paired with presence, it can cultivate the clarity you have been searching for all along.

While being present in an uncomfortable moment, ask yourself the following questions to expand your clarity.

• What is the truth about why I feel uncomfortable in this moment/experience?

• What do I want to see change?

• What is in my power to change in this moment?

• What am I avoiding?

• What can I learn or gain from this uncomfortable moment/experience?
  

Alternatively, being present can feel neutral or positive. Feel free to ask yourself the following questions to expand your truth and experience.

• What in this moment resonates with me completely?

• What about this moment nourishes and fulfills me?

• What about this moment sparks my creativity?

• What messages or truth am I open to receive?
  

Dig deep; don’t just let your mind jump in with a simple answer. Allow the truth to bubble up to the surface. Feel and honor that truth by witnessing it fully.

Allow this opportunity to reflect where you are and reveal where you are heading. And with your determination and unfiltered honesty, you can see where you might be holding yourself back. Presence gives you clarity on the now and what is needed to move you forward.

Presence as an Opportunity

Now that we have established that presence gives you clarity and direction. Let’s discuss the power of how presence gives you a deeper appreciation for life. How it immerses you in the beauty of your current moment. As I said before, if your mind is always stuck in the past or constantly imagining the future. You will miss out on the beauty of your current moment. You potentially could miss oppratunities for progress or even direction from the divine itself.

I will repeat myself: if your current moment or situation in life feels uncomfortable, you may even label it as a sh!tty experience. That shouldn’t limit your ability to see the beauty within you and around you.

If you are always worried about the what-ifs and what could have been. Allowing your mind to wander or escape your current reality. Then it becomes difficult to be present and cherish the beautiful moments you always fantasize about.

If your mind is trained to escape every moment it can. Refusing to be present for the uncomfortable, it will find a way to escape the beautiful as well. This is because it is just operating as it normally has.

By being present in all moments, you can find balance in the uncomfortable and the moments that bring pleasure. You will discover a change in your mind. You will find safety within and groundedness in your reality. Granting yourself permission to stop escaping and be present for the pleasurable moments will alter your perception of your life and open your eyes to the beauty you are experiencing.

In other words, if your mind is always escaping. Pondering the past, future, what-ifs, and so on. By training your mind to be present and see the beauty within and the external. You will find a shift in how you perceive your life and your environment. Cultivating a deeper connection with all that is.

During your lunch break, watch the rain on your windshield and listen to a heartfelt song. Working on a project or towards an achievement? Grant yourself a moment to be present and witness how you are actively taking action towards it. Feel the appreciation, praise yourself, and maybe even tell yourself you got this.

We forget that all these moments contribute to our life overall. Decide how you want to experience it. Use it as a way to shift direction or embody transformation. Take your power back from your mind and distraction to foster a deeper connection within yourself.

Techniques to Ground You in the Present

Some think being present is so simple it’s mindless. To be honest, it isn’t at first, especially in a fast-paced world with constant distractions and demands.

There are moments at the end of the day or before our day even begins where we have an opportunity to anchor ourselves into the present. To train our mind to be centered instead of jumping and racing to plan for the entire day. Take advantage of this if you can, and use it to train your mind to be present.

To teach yourself to be present takes patience, repetition, and awareness. Your mind might be used to escaping, so teach yourself and your mind that being present is safe. Everyone has their own technique for grounding themselves in the present moment. But in this article, we will discuss a few of them. Starting with my favorite, breathwork. It’s my favorite because it is easy and busy-mind friendly.

Breath Work

Many of us have probably rolled our eyes at the thought of doing breathwork. I surely have until I really gave it a chance. Breathwork helps sync our mind and body. This is because the breath is the bridge between the mind and body.

With focus and intention, you can bring your awareness into your body, your emotions, and the space you are occupying.

Sometimes, like when you’re driving or at your day job, it’s challenging to meditate and anchor in your body. Breath work is a simple technique that can be used at any moment and anywhere. You don’t have to just sit and stare at what is in front of you to become present. All you have to do is just become aware of your breath. In through the nose, and out through the mouth. Simple as that.

Move and Feel

Another practice that grounds your mind and awareness is movement and physical touch. Such as doing breathwork as you stretch, feeling the muscles move reminds you exactly where you are now. Rubbing lotion on your legs and arms while feeling the texture of your skin redirects your racing mind to focus on the immediate tangible sensations.

Observation

Observation is a practice used in spirituality, from observing those thoughts to observing your emotions. But using observation to look at the world around you and immerse yourself in the present moment teaches your mind and body that it is safe to just be. Disconnect from the pressure of the future or the weight of the past, and witness the right now without judgment or an objective.

Take time to engage in the three S’s: Sight, Sound, and Smell. The sound of the train passing your apartment. The smell of dinner in your oven, or the scenery around you. These are things you can observe without judgment, without needing to act immediately, and simply exist.

These are all practices on how to train your mind to step out of itself and be present. Being aware and in

the moment gives you the opportunity to align your present self, actions, and thoughts. So take the time to be present in that very opportunity.