Do you know what being present is?

Being present is being fully in the moment. You don’t have any other thought in your mind other than the experience you’re currently in.

It is very easy to live life in the past or future. It’s where most of us spend our time.

“Why did I do that?” “Why didn’t that situation work out the way I thought it should?” “When will I be living the successful life I deserve?” “What happened in the news?” etc…

Over the years, I’ve had periods of time when I was able to live completely in the present. During those times, I had amazing experiences and everything always worked out for the best. I was always in the right place at the right time. I could go on, but I’m sure you get the point. Being present is like being the luckiest person in the world. Everything falls away but the most important core issues. You’re in the “here and now”!

How do you become present? The quickest way is to breathe. Yes, breathe!

Right now, you’re sitting in front of your computer. Aren’t you? Then what you need to do is: take a deep breath. Now pay attention to how that breath feels. Can you feel it filling up your lungs? Now let it out. How did that feel? Did you let it out in a big huff or did you slowly release it?

Try it again.
Big deep breath.
Pay attention to how it feels.
Now let it out slowly and experience how it feels to be in control of your breath.

Wasn’t that empowering? Even though breathing is something that is automatic, it is also something that you can control! Oh, and by the way, you’re now present!

Hope this was a helpful exercise for you.  Take a breathing break at least once a day and watch how your stress level changes and how you deal differently with each challenge that comes your way.

To your success,

Gwen Baran