Presence, having your focus and attention on the present moment, is vitally important to living from our hearts and not our heads. When we operate with our focus s in the present moment, we have less stress, more connection with others, and can tap into the infinite well of our intuition to create the best possible life for ourselves. If you want to read more about the benefits of presence, check out this blog.
Many people ask: How do I allow more presence in my life? There are many different ways. The most important thing is finding a way that feels good. This will help you use it every day or whenever you feel like your mind is doing gymnastics thinking about the past or projecting into the future.
Here are 3 Ways you can bring more presence into your day.
1. Do a brain dump
Part of being human can be having a seemingly never-ending list of things to do. It can often feel like when you cross one thing off your to-do list, two more pop up in its place like a mythical creature. All of the tasks (and many other thoughts and feelings) are taking up space in your mind and making you feel scattered, and sometimes it's best to get them out and onto paper. Take out a piece of paper (*** use this downloadable journaling page***) and a pen and set a timer for 10 minutes (or however long you have).
Your thoughts, feelings, things you need to do… whatever it is is perfect. Put away your phone and any other distractions and simply write anything and everything that comes to you to put down. There is no wrong way to do this as long as your pen is moving. This exercise skims the surface of your mind for floating “debris” and allows more clarity, focus, and groundedness moving forward.
2. Do a Guided Meditation
Meditation, or sitting in stillness to slow your thoughts down, is one of our favorite ways to bring in more mindfulness. Although meditation may seem intimidating, it is one of the most natural things in the world! There is no right or wrong way to meditate, and a wonderful way to get started is to find a guided meditation and simply follow along. If your mind starts to wander, that is OK and perfectly natural. As soon as you realize it, just focus on the guided meditation again.
3. Create a Sanctuary
Do you have a favorite place to go in your home to relax? If not, it’s time to create one to bring more presence into your life. Choose a comfy spot and fill the space with your favorite candles, incense, or wax melts. Add soft blankets and pillows, and a journal. Visit this space once a day even if just for a few moments. At the beginning or end of your day sit with a cup of tea or your favorite snack and just be. Enjoy lighting scents and focus on breathing while looking around the room and feeling calm, comfort, and pleasure.
When we intentionally bring more presence into our lives, like our muscles become stronger after working out for an extended period of time, we will find ourselves being present more and more often without even trying. That is the beauty of creating a mindfulness practice.
If you have been feeling disconnected, scattered, or stressed lately, we encourage you to try one or all of these tips to bring more presence into your life.