By Maurice Denis, my partner in Change Starts Today. Thanks again for the inspiration, Maurice!

Being present is a lifelong practice. Pausing and being present is a way to wipe the slate clean and restart your day. It's a way to refresh and reboot. There are several ways to bring yourself back to the moment, focus on the ones that speak to you. Here are a few...

First things first: you must realize that the majority of the time we are not present. If you think you are, guess again. Studies have shown that every seven seconds random thoughts pop in and out of our heads, which translates to 7 or 8 interruptions and loss of focus every minute of your day. Imagine how much time is wasted, how much production is loss and how the quality of our work suffers.

What if we instead did everything with profound attention? What would the results be?

So where are we, when we’re not present? You can only be in one of three places: in the present, in the past or in the future. The majority of us are usually thinking about things in the past we could have improved on, things we may have not cherished or even neglected. If were not in the past we are in the future, we forecast and project what we wish our lives would be or how things in the future will be better than they are right now (and that is if your optimistic)! Mostly we forecast tragic results for ourselves in the future. We see ourselves failing in our relationships, messing up presentations at work, not meeting financial obligations, or saying the wrong things. Rarely are we in the present, right here right now. Our thoughts are directed by our fears and insecurities. The principal cause of distraction that steals our ability to be profoundly in the present, are our fears and insecurities. We are so intoxicated with ourselves that we miss the moment in front of us. We listen to the voice in our heads constantly exaggerating our fears and creating anxiety robbing us of the gift of the present.

The second step: is to realize when you’re not in the moment. This as we just discussed is the majority of the time. Create cues and reminders that bring you back to the present. For example, focus on your breathing. Every time you bring your breath to mind you bring yourself right into the present. You don’t breathe in the past or in the future… you can only breathe right now. Ask yourself one simple question when you catch yourself not being present. Where did the thing that was occupying my mind live? Did it live in the present? Was it right in front of me? Here are some things you can do that may help you remember to pause and be present:
• Focus on your breathing
• Ask yourself where does this thought or emotion live? In the past, future or present.
• Create a positive affirmation
• Focus on the other person, try to be less interesting and more interested in the other person
• Make eye contact
• Become a great listener
• Surround yourself with a vibrant, aware and present community
• Ask how you can be of service to your immediate community
• Slow down, meditate daily AM and PM
• Create order in your life, the proper systems and processes that make life easier
• Bring to mind the things you are grateful for
• Practice, Practice and more Practice!

And remember:

“The master is the one who knows he will always be a student”
Buddhist Monk

Please feel free to share your experiences with being present and LEAVE A COMMENT!