“Be where your feet are”
This is a statement that I have heard from my dad a lot lately. I don’t think it is original to him but it has become a theme that we believe here at Goby is important to living life to the full.
As we enter into the holiday season, it is more important than ever to focus on the principle of being present. The most wonderful time of the year can also be the busiest, most stressful, and emotionally draining time of the year. Between the kids events, work parties, family get togethers, shopping, family pictures… the list can go on! We have to fight for joy in this season and I think a great tool is working on staying in the present.
A recent study showed that mindfulness practices have similar effects on mental health issues as compared to popular anti anxiety medications. This is not a knock on medications (we are pro doctor prescribed medication) but it does show the power of mindfulness. And in this article the goal of this mindful practice used is described as focusing “on what is happening now, rather than the past or the future.” The goal of mindfulness is being present.
You don’t need to become a Tibetan monk who meditates for hours on end to experience joy during the holidays. Whew! What a relief right?! But we can take some hints from this practice to help us be present. Here’s a few ways to practice being present in your life:
- Prayer – the foundation of prayer is acknowledging a power outside of yourself and releasing control. Prayer, like mindfulness, helps us release the heaviness of our burdens to become present in our moment. Adding small prayers throughout our day can drastically change how we experience moments.
- Thankfulness – Our last blog outlines this and offers a great tool to help us cultivate gratitude in our lives. When we focus on what we are grateful for rather than our worries and stresses, there is room in our life to be present.
- Say no/do less – the pull of the season is to do everything. Attend all the things and do all the activities. Often, our fomo (fear of missing out) gets activated and we don’t want to miss something fun. But in reality, the inverse is true and we have less fun when we are spread thin. Intentionally say no to things so you can experience the most important things to the full.
Being present isn’t doing nothing. It takes thoughtful action to really experience the joy of the season. We believe in you and are praying blessings over you and your loved ones!
Ross