The idea of being present seems so simple. Our current, growing culture of technology and social-media beckons us away like the siren’s song from being present. Our schedules are too hectic and have a new love affair with coffee drinks. Go harder. Go faster. If we are not busy we are not successful. This seems so crazy to me, now. I used to thrive on wearing my badge of busy-ness. I wore it proudly as most of us over-achiever types do. Many of us live as if we will never die and we put off things that matter most. Our minds are busy and have been conditioned to multi-task to get more done and to being available at every waking moment! Have you thanked you smart phone?? A side-effect of this busyness is anxiety about a future that hasn’t happened and we tend to dwell on events from our past we cannot change.
Yoga teaches us to become present and hopefully we achieve this on our mats as well as in real life. For some of us, we settle right into this since we crave it. Others of us who are addicted to our Starbucks and schedule checklist, becoming present is a letting go of a false sense of achievement. It is opening space in our day. It is an opening of space in our mind and a taming of our soul to want to sit still. Being present is a process…..sometimes a long and hard process. Being present no matter what our personality, takes practice and mindfulness.
To begin, we need to learn and practice taking inventory of our thoughts; notice how distracted we become when we tune in to our physical body in a pose or listen to the mental chatter. Can we allow our breath to take the forefront and all the other craziness to become background noise? In life can we let go of focusing and obsessing on things we cannot control? We need to practice connecting with the now, breathe deeply, landing in our body with awareness. Can we feel ourselves in the moment; can you feel your feet on the ground, your breath moving, and are you listening to the person you are talking with? Is your mind listening or is it thinking about something else or what it is we think we need to be saying?
Something that has always helped me to break my type-A perfectionism is to have a morning ritual. I have always practiced an early morning ritual that begins with my wake up ritual of drinking a glass of water, brushing my teeth, using my net pot, and rubbing sesame oil on my feet. I do 5 series A and 5 series B sun salutations and a 10-minute meditation. I also read my bible. It is during this peaceful start to my day that I set my intention to be present, attentive, and a great listener. I find my breath and cultivate a peaceful place within. No matter how busy I get, I return to my breath and my peaceful place inside throughout my day, taking 10 minutes here and there to just be still and breathe. My breath is my sanctuary and the gift of breath reminds me God is in control and I need only to worry about myself and my reactions. Are you willing to get present? ARE you willing to let go of your fears and be present….HERE…..NOW?
Be a present and BE PRESENT this Christmas season! You never know when you might touch and change someone’s life!!
Be the change! Be. Do. Go.
Namaste!
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