Present Moment Awareness

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If you have struggled to grasp the concept of mindfulness, you are not alone. Even as a therapist, it has taken me many years to understand what it means and how I can effectively apply it to my life. 

Reading Pema Chödrön’s book, “When Things Fall Apart”, was one of the first times I felt something click. She has a way of explaining the present moment as the ultimate opportunity for growth and learning. She outlines how time spent living in the the past or future is a recipe for human suffering and turning your focus to the present moment can offer peace and relief. 

Practicing mindfulness is difficult because it requires us to be present with uncomfortable feelings and sensations. Since our natural instinct is to avoid these completely, we’ve had our whole lives to master the behaviors that help us do so. So to all of a sudden start sitting with them can feel unfamiliar and scary. This is where we get stuck! So how can we get past this?

Be curious! This was my favorite piece of advice as I experimented with present moment awareness. I’ve learned that if you let go of self-judgement and allow yourself be truly curious, fear cannot survive! Compassionate curiosity will lead to knowing yourself in new ways reveal opportunities for change. 

Examples of how present moment awareness can enrich your life: 

  • Gratitude - think about what you are grateful for at present in your life

  • Attention to detail - notice things around you that you normally miss (e.g. pleasant sites, sounds, smells, etc.)

  • Feeling more connected to your core values

  • Gaining a better understanding of yourself

  • Recognizing opportunities for choice or change

  • Regulate or decrease anxiety by “getting out of your head”

  • Creating distance from unhelpful thoughts and feelings

Not sure where to start? Here are some of my favorite present moment activities: 

  • Write in a journal

  • Pick one of your 5 senses (sight, smell, sound, taste, touch) and notice as much as you can for 5 minutes. Writing it down helps!

  • Download the Headspace App. This is an easy and enjoyable introduction to meditation!

  • Whenever you find yourself caught up in a thought, thank your mind for sharing and bring your awareness back to the present moment.

Laura HoudComment