Presence

Lately I have been pondering this idea of presence.

For years I have been talking to my clients about this idea that if we are depressed we are thinking about the past and if we are anxious we are worried about the future. This is a simplistic idea, but it often holds true.

Then we move into the present and what does it mean to be fully present. I am not talking about meditation when we are focusing on being present or breath work when we are trying to get or remain present. The idea is simply being present. Not trying to think or feel our way there, but really landing in a place of deep embodiment.

The other day I sat on my couch, phone put away, computer put away, radio off, tv off and my dog in my lap. There was nothing to do and no where else to be and my body settled into a deep rest. I was fully awake and simply being present, with my dog lying on my lap, allowed my nervous system to settle. I didn't even know I was carrying stress and tension, but when you settle deeply inside yourself, you become acutely aware that you are in a different state of being.

For those who are sensitive to energy, you may have noticed a heaviness lately—like moving through mud some days—even with strong grounding or clearing practices.

But this sense of being, the stillness that comes when we stop thinking and stop doing and just are... that allows everything to fall away.

Meditation is a wonderful tool, but often we go to meditate and are combating our thoughts, refocusing our brain and that in itself takes us away from presence. The other thing with meditation is people often think they meditate and then they are fine, that the meditation has helped them refocus, and that may be true, but true presence, the kind that allows the nervous system to reset, is a constant. It's a way of being.

I feel as if this is a hard concept to describe unless you have been there, so I'm going to give you a way to get there.

Ready?

Stop multitasking.

Just

Stop.

I was taught to multitask at an early age and don't even remember a time when I wasn't multitasking. But focusing on several things at once will keep us from being present. It is impossible to focus on two things, or more, at the same time, and give them all your full attention.

So, just for today, can you allow yourself to focus on one thing at a time. One task, one moment, one experience and see how you feel. If you feel even slightly better, can you do it for one more day?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this and any stories you would like to share about your experience in presence.