This holiday, I’m wishing for the gift of being present. With the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations, travel plans, or plans to host out-of-town friends and family, few times of the year feel quite so rushed. We are rushing while aspiring to feel and share good cheer.
We’re bombarded with information in this 24/7 media cycle. We have multiple channels from which the world can share “the next great deal or sale” with us. Our to-do lists this season seem never-ending as we decorate, cook and bake, and create travel plans. Absorbing it all, filtering and making thoughtful decisions can feel like a full-time job. Accepting what we can let go of is equally challenging!
It takes mindfulness and discipline to create time to ascertain what truly requires one’s focus. For people like me who are naturally motivated to “get it all done” (anyone else here identify as a high performer?), slowing down and allowing some things to go undone feels unnatural.
A friend calls this slowing down to speed up, which resonates on many levels. Life does feel chaotic when we are constantly accelerating, giving us little time to assess our direction and what we truly want to accomplish. In this state, we easily can lose our sense of purpose and meaning.
During this holiday rush, I’m staying focused on being present for clients, friends, and family who need my attention, support, feedback, and guidance. For me, it means being OK and accepting that less important activities like reading articles or listening to podcasts may go undone.
Tips for Being Present
Practicing the art of remaining present doesn’t cost much; it’s easy to build into your everyday life. Easy tactics include:
- Focus on your breathing. Take a few deep breaths, paying attention to the sensation of the air moving in and out.
- Engage your senses. Notice the sights, sounds, smells, and textures around you. Bring your attention to the present moment.
- Practice mindfulness meditation. Set aside a few minutes each day to sit quietly and observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment.
- Do one thing at a time. Avoid multitasking, which can cause you to feel scattered. Give your full attention to the task at hand.
- Take breaks. Step away from your work or activities periodically to recharge. Go for a short walk or do some light stretching.
- Be aware of your body. Notice any tension or stress, and consciously relax your muscles. Check-in to see how you’re feeling physically and adjust as needed.
- Use reminders. Set alerts on your phone or place sticky notes in your environment to prompt you to pause and be present.
For those of you who are like me and don’t want to “miss” anything, there’s a mantra I fall back to when I feel I’m approaching a manic level of activity: What is meant for you won’t pass you by. This phrase reminds me to move intentionally and to trust.
When my friend says to slow down to speed up, I know that by slowing down, we can improve our sense of alignment. And in achieving better alignment, we can find ourselves covering more ground, making bigger strides, seeing almost an unnatural level of progress. Some psychologists call this “flow”.
During this holiday season, I wish you all good things and the gift of being present.