Being Present: How Mindfulness & Meditation Improve Daily Life
“This present moment is your opportunity—your only opportunity—to connect with your life.”
- Sam Harris
This quote is but another way to say what I heard 48 years ago from spiritual teacher Ram Dass: he introduced the profound words “Be Here Now” and a book by the same title in 1971 to a new generation of young people seeking a different path of living. The book served as a foundational guide to introducing Eastern spirituality, yoga, and meditation to Western audiences. It emphasized being entirely present and in the moment.
We all need frequent reminders that the present moment is all we truly have. In my world of coaching, the phrase “be here now” can mean the difference between a fulfilled and an unfulfilled life.
I share this quote with all clients in our first session and often mention it in consultations. I value Sam Harris’s take on “Be Here Now,” showing that being present lets us truly connect with our lives.
Taking Sam Harris’s message to heart means that in any given moment, you have the ability to make a better choice.
For example:
Do I go through this red light and take a chance?
Do I light up a cigarette even though I have a smoker’s cough?
Do I eat the chocolate cake at 8 pm or opt for a few slices of apple?
Do I offer help to an elderly woman trying to cross a busy intersection, or do I ignore her?
Should I sign up for an online watercolor class to enrich my creativity, or pass it up?
Starting a Meditation Practice
Meditation is one of the practices I teach clients who are open to learning. It is a powerful tool for learning to be present, as it helps calm the mind, reduce distractions, and cultivate greater awareness of the current moment. Just as committing to an exercise routine builds stronger muscles, meditating daily strengthens your ability to focus on the here and now. strengthens your ability to anchor attention in the present moment.
Moreover, sitting with oneself helps the meditator befriend themselves. With all the anxieties, doubt, or self-loathing that may arise in the moment, over time, sitting with these feelings allows for the possibility of losing these unwanted negative feelings.
I use the analogy that our thoughts are like clouds passing through the sky. They form and dissolve over a short period.
By allowing the negative feelings to rise and cease, like any other feeling or thought, while sitting. All feelings and thoughts are temporary and can be seen for what they are. One begins to see that this phenomenon is a reality. And obviously, working with a therapist or coach provides support for unwanted thoughts and feelings.
I suggest starting by setting your phone or a clock for 5 minutes and putting it out of sight to keep you from checking it. Begin in small increments of time.
You will find a 20-minute Guided Meditation to Support Daily Meditation on this page of my website.
