The Importance of Being Present

I know. You've heard this over and over. But recently, I was listening to an interview and heard the interviewee comment that when we are fully in the present, we open ourselves to be more intuitive, more authentic, more willing to take appropriate risks even if we make mistakes. (Most mistakes can be fixed. Many of them deserve a "So what" follow-up.)

We've heard that being present is the only way to go because the past is over and the future hasn't happened. But to think of it in terms described above, gave me pause. I asked myself, Why would being in the present increase intuition? Because...the mind static caused by rehashing the past or trying to predict the future wouldn't be there. What would be there? A level of stillness. A mind open to observe and respond to what is going on and only what is going on. Feelings, thoughts, and actions would be responses to immediate surroundings and events. Intuitive information is often subtle. It can't be heard above the clamor of the mind.

The interviewee said something else that enhanced this: "Get out of your mind and into your life." If we're not fully present, we waste the moment. An example: Most of us have arrived somewhere and are amazed we did so in one piece...because we were focused on other things rather than on driving or experiencing whatever form our commute takes. The business world helps to muck this up by promotion of multi-tasking. Sometimes, it's appropriate; but to do this all the time doesn't allow us to savor moments. We end up being non-stop doers instead of be-ings.

Life coach training taught that we have to listen to clients on more than one level. Another word for this is engagement. Have you ever tried to converse with someone and you could tell that not only were they not engaged with you, but they probably weren't even in the same "space" as you? Frustrating. Or, maybe you did this to someone. Engaged listening can only happen if a person is mentally and emotionally present. Honest-to-goodness listening when another person talks rather than anticipating your next statement or rebuttal results in real communication. You make sure you understand what they mean to convey. You ask questions that demonstrate they have 100-percent of your attention. When was the last time you listened that way or were listened to with that kind of focus? Feels good, doesn't it. Engagement, in anything, can only happen in the same manner.

Be in the present. Engage. Get out of your mind and into your life. Do these things and you won't be able to help but see positive outcomes in all areas of your life. What are you waiting for? Now is what you have.