Presence is the Secret to a Fulfilling Life
What do you want from life? That question includes what do you want from your work, your career, your relationships, indeed your entire world. I am lucky enough to work with many UTSW professionals asking themselves these very questions. As a coach, I meet people where they are and help them get to where they want to go. The tendency for many people is to focus on the second part, where they want to go (i.e., a change they want to create, a situation they want to fix, a goal they want to achieve). This is great and necessary, but it’s only half the question. Understanding where you are now is essential to finding a way toward where you want to be.
What’s here now?
Pause for a moment to discover “what’s here now?” What do you notice, right now, right here? Maybe you’re reading this on your phone, or on your computer. Maybe you’re alone in your office or sitting in Starbucks surrounded by other people doing their thing. Wherever you are, however you’re reading these words, pause for a moment.
Start with your body.
What do you notice? Starting at the top of your head, scan down through your body, noticing any tension you’re holding, and noticing any sensations you are experiencing. Scan down through your head, shoulders, arms, torso, and your abdomen. Notice what’s present in your back, your bottom, down through your legs, into your feet, ending at your toes. Don’t look for something. Simply notice what’s there.
Now notice what’s happening in your mind.
Besides reading these words, what else is your mind doing? Maybe it’s wondering what the heck this blog post is getting at. Maybe it’s thinking about what you should be doing instead of this. More important than what you’re thinking, simply notice that you are thinking.
Notice how you are thinking. Is your mind moving quickly or slowly? Are you captured by a particular thought or are random thoughts coming and going? Simply notice that your mind has a mind of its own, if you will.
Now notice how you are feeling.
Notice what’s underneath your thinking mind. Is there a particular mood or emotion present? What’s here in your body and your mind may be clues to what you are feeling, but the feeling is what comes first. So, notice what you’re feeling. If this is difficult to do while reading, take a moment away from reading to close your eyes and simply notice.
Noticing what’s here now is the practice of becoming present. Presence can have a transformative impact on you, your work, your relationships, your world. Cultivating presence is an entryway to anything and everything you want in life. You still must do the work, you still must build the relationships, you still must lead your life. But all of these are done better with presence.
So, ask yourself again, in this moment, what’s here now?
Mike Caracalas
Professional Executive Coach
michael.caracalas@utsouthwestern.edu
About the Author
Before becoming a professional coach with his own Leadership Coaching firm, Mike Caracalas worked for Sun Microsystems and YUM! Brands in training, HR, and leadership development. He holds a B.A. in psychology, M.A. in organizational psychology, CPCC (Certified Professional Co-Active Coach), and PCC (Professional Certified Coach).