As we enter into the biggest gift giving time of the year, the focus is usually on what presents I will receive this year and what presents I should buy for others.
This year, I’m challenging myself to do something different. I’m going to give the gift of actually being present, with my friends, my family, and myself.
Being present is being in a potent mental environment that enables you to take control of your life and actively choose your responses, as opposed to merely responding to events in a predetermined manner. When you’re present, you pay more attention to what you’re doing than to what you’re not doing.
What Does It Mean To Be Present?
It means being fully aware of the present moment, while being free from the chatter of one’s mind. It’s often associated with feelings of stillness and peace. Sensations often seem sharper when you are actively present. People who live in this state commonly describe feeling “free from delusion” and living life “as it really is.” From time to time, we are able to focus on the present, but it takes practice to be able to enter this state of mind and remain there for extended periods of time. Our thoughts stray. The thoughts either go back in time, or they start looking forward and make preparations for the future. Both of those rob us, and our loved ones, of the present moment and all that it has to offer.
I can truly say that, as I learn to live my life day-by-day in the present, not only is my success improving, but so is my level of happiness. Being stuck in the past or projecting into the future isn’t going to provide us any satisfaction because the past and the future are only ideas in our head. The most crucial time is the present, because we cannot travel back in time to change what has already occurred, and we are unable to predict what will occur in the future. Therefore, the only thing we can control is the present. If we act wisely now, both the future and the past may be viewed more favorably.
So how can we maintain our awareness in the present?
The first thing to understand is that, no matter how hard we try, we can only do one thing at a time; therefore, we should give that thing our all. Instead of being in the now, we spend most of our time thinking about the past or the future. We ultimately wind up rushing past that moment on our route to somewhere else, missing it in the process. We cause this to happen to ourselves, so life ultimately passes us by.
Rehearsing the past, which is all we are doing, is troublesome because it is something that cannot be altered. It is completed, unchangeable, unmovable, and set in stone. We can certainly modify how we feel about the past, but dwelling on it is pointless and, for some of us, ultimately harmful.
Furthermore, projecting into the future is difficult and even pointless because, despite our best efforts to convince ourselves differently, we truly have no influence over how things will turn out. Although we can establish an intention, the Lord ultimately has the final say.
Therefore, remaining present implies remaining here, right now.
A few easy techniques can help us achieve this state of profound concentration and direct experience of the time we’re in: Moving forward, decide you will be present and will focus on what is happening now. Allow yourself to appreciate the moment, and be grateful for the present. Don’t allow the tales in your head about other people, the current circumstances, or your own thoughts to prevent you from being present or taking action in the present moment. Don’t allow your mind to retreat to those old thoughts or push you too far into the future. Let’s give our undivided attention to something or someone that matters. This year you become the present. Wrap yourself in love and joy; be present for yourself and for your loved ones.