How to be Present

Physically attending events, being around friends and family, or doing daily tasks at work is NOT the same as being present in these same circumstances.

Have you ever driven home, mostly on autopilot, only to arrive at your destination with a limited ability to recall anything about the drive?

• You physically drove the car…

• You arrived at your destination…

• You and the car are safe…

But you weren’t present.

Without deliberate and intentional actions to remain engaged, you cannot be present. You must become aware of when you aren’t aware [when your attention is focused on things other than the task at hand] and have the ability to purposefully bring your attention back to the moment at hand.

To practice building awareness, the next time you’re with friends or family ask yourself “Am I actually in this moment or is my mind somewhere else?” If your mind has wandered, intentionally brig it back to the situation at hand.

If you notice that your mind tends to wander and your attention is regularly distracted and impacting your relationships, give us a call to learn how to be more present and engaged in the things that matter to you most.

-Dr. Jena Casas, Ph.D.