Awareness is essentially mindfulness through objective, nonjudgmental observation of what exists around you and within you in any given moment. It’s attention to the here and now as opposed to reliving past experiences, contemplating the future, losing yourself in thought, or dwelling on feelings. Granted, at times, it’s warranted to reflect on the past or to plan for the future. In fact, we can learn a great deal from our experiences and the experiences of others, but it’s important not to focus on past events too often or to continually revisit them in our minds, as doing so can rob us of life. In the same respect, it’s vital to set aside time regularly to prepare for the future, review goals, or plan actions, but when we’re not doing that, we shouldn’t worry about the future. By remaining aware of that which is unfolding before us and within us in the moment, we can best experience what life has to offer. The following acronym can help shed more light on awareness of the moment:

 

SIFT through the aspects of the moment to practice awareness.

• Situation. Understand the current situation, and note the details.

• Input. Identify what sensory input is available, and tune in to that.

• Feelings. Acknowledge the feelings that have arisen within you.

• Thoughts. Objectively observe your thoughts as they come about.

 

Concentration

 

Another important aspect of presence is your ability to concentrate. As you know, this is achieved simply by narrowing your focus when a specific task or issue requires greater attention. To concentrate more effectively, it’s helpful to focus with purpose, passion, and patience. Purpose will foster your commitment and motivation. If you don’t have a particular aim in mind, then you can simply strive to get the most out of a given situation and learn what you can from it. As your motivation to focus on the task at hand increases, things will come more naturally. In the same respect, passion will help you rise above any inhibitions that may be holding you back, and it will also enhance your overall performance. Similarly, it’s often easier to concentrate if you focus closely on your quality of effort with a particular task. If you add patience to the mix when necessary, then it will amplify your attention to detail, allow you to spot opportunity, and ready you for action. The more you invest in the moment, the greater the benefits. The following principles can help improve concentration:

 

FEEL a part of the moment to concentrate.

• Focus. Single-mindedly focus on the current task.

• Elasticity. Remain flexible, and practice patience.

• Excellence. Have a purpose, and commit to quality.

• Love. Appreciate the moment, and act with passion.

 

Take

 

The third characteristic of presence is your perception of or take on the current situation. This is essentially your interpretation of the moment, the importance of which was previously outlined, and it stems from your beliefs, empathy, compassion, and outlook. As humans, our minds and bodies thrive on the positive, so it’s extremely helpful to remain optimistic, no matter what the situation. If you have limiting beliefs or expectations, then those can adversely affect your perceptions. If awareness is likened to the view through a camera, then optimism would be similar to adding a polarizing filter that makes the view clearer and the colors more vivid, whereas pessimism would be similar to a clouded filter that distorts your view and makes it more difficult to see. You may not be able to control much of what goes on around you or dictate certain events that occur in your life, but if you consistently choose a positive filter through which to view the world, then your life will be easier and more enjoyable, no matter the circumstances. Once again, an acronym can be leveraged to remember these important points:

 

BECOME fully present, and gain fulfillment through selective interpretation.

• Beliefs. Discard negative, limiting beliefs, and enforce or adopt positive beliefs.

• Empathy. Strive to understand the challenges faced by those around you.

• Compassion. Practice kindness, understanding, acceptance, and tolerance.

• Opportunity. Seek opportunity, and strive to learn from each situation.

• Measurement. View adversity as a challenge, and choose to be optimistic.

• Enjoyment. Choose to be happy and grateful, and see the humor in life.

 

Given the aforementioned acronyms, we can leverage the following phrases to help remember how to practice presence. To live in the moment, ACT like you want to be in the here and now through awareness, concentration, and take. To practice awareness, SIFT through the various aspects of the moment, including your situation, input, feelings, and thoughts. Then FEEL a part of the current situation to facilitate concentration through focus, elasticity, excellence, and love. Finally, have the right take in order to BECOME fully present by leveraging beliefs, empathy, compassion, and opportunity as well as by measuring your interpretation and enjoying what life has to offer.

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Presence comes easily to a very young child; in fact, it’s his or her natural state from the start. However, as a person matures, changes occur mentally, emotionally, and physically that diminish one’s ability to focus on the moment. Some changes are innate, whereas others are inherently brought about by experience, education, or the natural participation in society, among other things. Such personal growth is necessary and often provides numerous benefits, but it also creates distractions and desires that inevitably detract from one’s ability to live in the moment on a consistent basis. To improve on that, we need to understand what it means to live in the moment and then practice that repeatedly, just like any other skill that we want to enhance. Life is an adventure that changes from moment to moment; the more attuned you are to the details of each experience, the more you stand to gain. Focusing on the moment at hand will enhance your ability to perform well in whatever you do. That will inevitably lead to increased productivity and recognition. Presence also gives you a greater capacity to learn from each situation and to adapt more quickly than you would if you weren’t alert. The attentiveness and commitment that stem from presence will often allow you spot trouble in advance and thereby avoid pitfalls. Also, when challenges do arise, you will be more equipped to deal with those effectively. In the same respect, an improved focus will allow you to identify opportunities that frequently surface, which might otherwise go unnoticed. Other potential benefits include increased self-control, peace of mind, and greater self-confidence, which in turn typically contribute to improvements in mental acuity, physical health, and emotional stability.

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In may appear relatively easy to live in the moment. It seemingly comes down to paying attention and doing the right thing. However, given such challenges as the level of detail in any one moment, constant changes around us and within us, the intricacies of our thoughts and feelings, social pressures, and the effort necessary to focus the mind for an extended period of time, it’s no wonder we have trouble remaining mindful on a consistent basis. The good news is that we can become more aware in life through practice, and there’s opportunity to practice being present in every waking moment. Also, there’s nothing special required; simply focus, attain what knowledge is available, and choose to utilize these skills accordingly.

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