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Being Present

Jan 19, 2023


It’s hard to believe, but we live in a world where we are constantly staring at little screens. We check email, social media, and text messages before even getting out of bed in the morning. Throughout our day we get more emails, texts and notifications from our phones than ever before. The problem with this is that it can cause us to miss being present in our lives!


I’m a planner.

I’m a planner. I plan my days, weeks, and months out in advance. I have a calendar that is color coded with different sections for certain things (workout schedule; appointments with clients). I also have several other planners that help break down the week into smaller chunks of time so I can see how long things take to complete.

I like planning because it gives me control over my life. When I know what needs to be done and when it has to be done by, it puts my mind at ease knowing that everything will work out as planned without any surprises along the way. The only stress that comes from planning comes from not having enough time on your hands but this is easily solved by increasing productivity throughout the day through prioritizing tasks according to importance or urgency so no single task becomes too big or complicated to handle in one sitting (and thus preventing burnout).

The problem with being a planner is that you can forget to be present.

It may seem counterintuitive to plan your time, but it can actually help you be present. When you know what you want to accomplish, it's easier to focus on how. You don't have to worry about wasting time or forgetting things because everything is right there in front of you.

You'll also find that planning helps with other aspects of life too, such as productivity and organization. Planning allows you to be more productive by setting goals and giving yourself clear instructions on how they should be achieved. By organizing your thoughts and ideas into a clearly defined list, it becomes easier for others around them (or even yourself) see what needs doing next so they can start moving toward completion together with confidence that nothing will get left behind along the way

Maybe not forgetting, but failing.

But what if we're not guilty of forgetting, but rather failing to pay attention. I've tried a lot of things that people have recommended for being present: meditation, yoga, mindful eating. There's one thing I haven't tried yet because it feels too uncomfortable: just sitting in silence and trying to be still for a few minutes at a time.

I know this is something I should do—and I also know that it will probably help me feel more calm and centered in my day-to-day life—but the thought of doing it fills me with dread. What if I'm not good at sitting quietly? What if the quietness brings up feelings that are difficult or painful? How can I help myself sit still when there's so much else going on around me?


Even when I’m present, I sometimes feel like I’m not present enough.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about being present. I know that sounds like one of those things that everyone says, but it’s true! How many times have you heard someone say they need to be more present? I feel like we all do, whether it is at work or in our personal lives.

Being present means being fully engaged in the moment and not letting your mind wander to other things or to the past or future. When you are distracted by your thoughts, you are not fully experiencing what is happening right now. Being present helps us connect with others around us and enjoy life more fully, which makes me wonder if there could be any other way to live life than being truly present!



You see, we need to live our lives as if there is no tomorrow

We often find ourselves telling ourselves that we'll start doing something tomorrow, or next week. And then the next day comes, and it's just as busy as any other day of the week. Or we tell ourselves: "I'll do it later." And by later, we also mean "someday in the future".

But what if there is no tomorrow? What if our lives are so short that there isn't enough time to do all the things we want to do? Do you realize how precious each moment is? Even those that seem boring or mundane can be used for good!

So stop waiting around for some ideal opportunity or right time. Start living your life right now! It doesn't matter if you're tired or busy; just find a way to stay present in everything you do today.

My favorite quote from Bob Goff says it perfectly.

The past is in the past, and it’s not going to change. The future hasn’t happened yet, so you can’t worry about it either. All you ever have is this moment, and this moment lasts for only a split second! So what are you going to do with that? Why not be present for your kids when they come home from school? Why not live in the now and enjoy what God has given us right now?

I find myself thinking about the past or future way too much. I need to stop doing that so I can be more present in life.

“You don’t have to wait for them to bring it up; be someone who brings it up.” -Bob Goff 

This quote from Bob Goff, a well-known author and speaker, perfectly encapsulates the concept of being present in your life. What he means by this is that you shouldn't wait around for others to bring up things that are important to you. If something is important enough for you, then it should be important enough for you to bring it up yourself!

Just like with those we love and care for, we need to ask God daily how we are doing and what changes we can make to be more present in our lives.

When we are not present, we lose out on being able to be fully available for God. God wants us to be close and intimate with Him, but if we are distracted by other things, it’s much harder for Him to reach us.
When we are not present in our day-to-day lives, it affects how we interact with others. We don’t listen as well or give people our full attention when they need it most because our minds are elsewhere.

We often feel like certain situations will never end—like an argument with your spouse or an illness that just won’t go away—and this can cause us to spiral down into a negative place that is hard to get out of (even when there is good news on the horizon). But if you continue spending time in prayer asking God how He would have you live in this moment while being aware of all your other responsibilities and needs (including those of others), then He will show up!

He will show up with the grace to help you get through whatever situation you may be in. He will show up with peace and comfort when you are feeling anxious or worried about something. He will show up with hope and encouragement when things seem like they can’t get any worse.

God will show up with solutions and ideas to help you navigate through your day. He will show up with the ability to shed light on what is happening around you instead of letting your mind wander down dark paths that lead nowhere.

Being present in your life today is key!

Many of us have trouble being fully present in our lives, but it’s important to make time for ourselves so that we can be happy.

Being present means staying in the moment and focusing on what you are doing at the time. It may seem simple, but being aware of what is going on around you at any given moment is challenging for many people. By practicing mindfulness exercises and focusing on the task at hand rather than worrying about other things or dwelling on past experiences, you can learn how to focus on the here and now.

You don’t need anything special to start being more present; all it takes is a little bit of focus each day! You might feel like nothing has changed at first, but over time being more mindful will become easier as well as make a difference in how you feel throughout each day.

What will happen if I start practicing mindfulness?

The best part of being present is that it’s something we can practice. It doesn’t require a big change or huge life event. All it takes is awareness and effort. By making small changes in our lives, we can start to see how truly important it is to be present in our everyday lives—and how much better they will be for it!

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