Are You Here… Now?
We hear all the time that it is important to ‘be in the now’.
Hmmm, but what does that mean exactly, and why is it important? I define being in the now as clearing other thoughts from my mind and focusing solely on what I sense at that moment. Tune into exactly what is happening, whether it’s a conversation you are hearing, music you are enjoying, the sights and sounds of outdoors, your breathing, or work you are focused on. See it, feel it, relax into it, and truly engage in that particular moment.
Climbing really forces you to be in the moment!
In our society, being great at multitasking has become a badge of honor but can lead to many busy moments, continual mind chatter, and not much life satisfaction. Having the ability to do various things at the same time may give the impression that you are leading a productive life but at what cost? Are you actually experiencing the moment you have at hand? Are you ever really “here” or are you always reliving a past moment or projecting into a future moment in your mind? If you can give your full attention to your current task or even give your full attention to the relaxation you are currently enjoying, you will find deeper value in your activities.
Consider conversation with family or friends-many times these can occur without full awareness, in fact, often we are half-listening while continuing our own thoughts in our head. This is false communication and don’t fool yourself that it isn’t noticed by others. Notice if you are truly listening or just waiting your turn to speak…there is quite a difference between the two. If you can look someone in the eye, focus your full awareness on what they are saying and converse while fully attuned, you will create a real moment of interaction between you.
A conversation with a child is enthralling to be fully involved in. Take note of their words, their facial movements, their pauses, and bodily actions and enjoy their whole presence. Being in the moment in this instance will allow you to experience the person and their thoughts without distraction. It is easy to nod your head and throw in the occasional “Huh, how about that.”, but to offer someone your full attention is a gift for the both of you.
Equally important is to allow yourself to be fully present while alone. Notice what’s going on in that mind of yours. Are you running the same thought patterns day in and day out? Are you on auto-pilot or making conscious choices both in action AND thinking? Do you constantly need external stimulation from social media or can you sit with yourself for awhile? Here is an exercise to try-if you are outside walking your dog, stop thinking of your long to-do lists or worrying about scheduling events for next week. Feel the sun on your skin, listen for the bird songs and the gentle sound of the breeze, notice the feel of the earth with each step you take.
Take the time to be fully aware, and in the moment
The same applies to your professional work. Attend to the task at hand without distraction, this is also called ‘flow state’. You know you have been in a flow state when you emerge from an activity and realize how completely focused you had been, forgetting about anything else during that time. Whether it's serving others or creating a product; you will likely gain more satisfaction from your work as well as be more productive. This is living in the moment and it is truly all we have as the past is gone and the future is non existent.
It is important to practice this skill for if you can stay focused and live in the present moment, you will realize that on most occasions you have every reason to feel positive and enjoy life.