Ways To Be Present

By Priya Kaur Tahim, LPC

Life often moves faster than we think. Time doesn’t stop just because we aren’t prepared to move forward. We have to learn to slow down, in order to appreciate the moments before they pass us by.

Why is being present so important? Being present allows you to cherish moments with loved ones, manage anxiety/stress in real time, focus on what brings you joy or creates stress, etc…Being present allows you to remain in control of your reactions, emotions, expectations and realities.

Here are a few ways of practicing being present:

Focusing on the current moment, rather than focusing on what could be, or what should be. If you are constantly living in the “what comes next” you’ll find that you miss out on what’s in front of you. When you find your mind wandering in the future, try to refocus on something in front of you. For example: who you are with, what you are doing, how are you feeling, etc…
Body scan meditations are a great to help focus on how your body is presently feeling. If we can be in tune with how our body is making us feel, we are more likely to be in control of how our mind is feeling.
Unplug. Get off social media or put your phone on ‘do not disturb’ and really try to focus on the energy around you.
Practice gratitude. It’s a small way to help evaluate things in your life that make you feel grateful. If you can point out little things that make you feel happy, blessed, or thankful-it will allow you to stay within the current feeling you are in.
Ask yourself If the thought that is going through you mind is something you are in control of. Often, our anxieties get the best of us by forcing us to think about the unknown. A way to help minimize that is to ask yourself what exactly you can control in the situation. From there, you can assess what is in your control.