This blog post has been authored by Michelle Allen, WePower Global
The Power of Being: Embracing the Now
From imposter syndrome to the superwoman scheme, we find ourselves bouncing between not being enough and being too much. Our bodies and minds are constantly set on “go”. Both society and our inner voices are constantly raising the bar and putting us in greater competition with ourselves and with each other. This hinders us from being present…from being mindful…from just being.
The Power of Being: Embracing the Now
Written L. Michelle Ware-Allen
Edited by Sarah Glass
Being Present and Being Happy
A Time article titled, “The Science of Happiness[SG1] ”, notes that when everyone embraces the view that each minute is an opportunity to accomplish something more and move ahead, you get caught up in this perspective and don’t stop to question if it’s working. We get so hooked on getting things done because we think the payoff will ultimately lead to happiness. But it doesn’t.
From imposter syndrome to the superwoman scheme, we find ourselves bouncing between not being enough and being too much. Our bodies and minds are constantly set on “go”. Both society and our inner voices are constantly raising the bar and putting us in greater competition with ourselves and with each other. This hinders us from being present…from being mindful…from just being.
My most present moments happen in the bathroom.
Maybe it’s the quiet ritual of it all, free from distractions of the outside world and my jumbled thoughts. I am silent and still …unattached to any other task, thing, meeting, person, or chore. My mind – like my behind – is free. I am left to my own musings and I must admit, I am quite peaceful.
Increasing Stress Resilience and Well-Being
Mindful.org defines mindfulness as the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. It’s a way of living. New research published in the Journal of Research in Personality shows that present-moment awareness – a key feature of mindfulness – increases stress resilience and well-being. in JAMA Psychiatry showed that being present or mindful helped people with current depression avoid relapses better than antidepressants.
As a society, we are constantly thinking about what happened, what is next, what we need to do, what we forgot, and how to be and have more. We tend to avoid taking time to embrace the moment, how far we’ve come, what we already have, and the ability to be alive.
Why?
Every day we get closer to the end of something: our childhood, our education, our careers, our lives. Our ability to take time to enjoy the now shouldn’t be limited to an unremarkable bathroom break. Take the time to appreciate everything you’ve accomplished; to really taste and savor your lunch instead of gulping it down to get to the next task; to lean in and listen to that song, singing out loud if you want to.
Daily Practices to be Mindful of Mindfulness
Having a chronic illness, days filled with pain have unfortunately taken away my unremarkable bathroom break. I appreciate being in the moment more than I ever have because I don’t really have any control of what the future will bring and no desire to examine my past. I wish I had taken the time to stop and stroll through that museum, go to that brunch date or take that photography class. I didn’t because I always had something I was trying to do or somewhere I was trying to get to. As I learn about the power of being in the moment, I try to do three things.
1. Face why I avoid being in the present moment and why the past or the future appears more important.
2. Take a moment to think of a memory, word, mantra, or prayer…that keeps or nudges me back to the present.
3. Think about how I feel. Right now, in this moment. When I have dinner, I avoid any other distractions and focus on the conversation with my family. When I’m working, I focus on that alone and put my phone and any other distractions away. When I make plans to have fun, I try not to fret about what I have to do afterwards or who can’t reach me. I strive to enjoy myself in that moment!
In the words of Dailai Lama, “There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday, and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do, and mostly, live.”
Michelle Allen is a business analyst with over 20 years of experience in the public, private and global markets. She is also the Founder of WePower Global, a new unique community made by women for women; a safe space to share, laugh, learn, and grow as we redefine work-life balance and what it means to be a boss!