Practicing presence in a distracted world can be difficult.
We are constantly being pulled in one direction and then another. We begin to focus, and suddenly an email comes in. The kids need to be picked up. The phone rings. Something else needs our attention.
So how do we practice presence?
First, what is presence?
Presence is allowing yourself to be immersed in the moment. Not making plans for the future or even the next five minutes. Simply paying attention to what is happening now.
Presence can be accompanied by silence or journaling. It can happen while reading, walking, or simply sitting and listening.
Presence calls our attention back to the moment.
During solitude, presence can ebb and flow. That’s okay.
Presence only requires a few moments to practice. Let the natural rhythm of your daily solitude show you where your attention is. As you allow your mind to settle into the practice of presence, you may begin to notice that you are more present in more places.
What begins as a simple practice of solitude may grow into a simple practice of presence.
Solitude can begin with silence.
Presence can begin with solitude.
Neither has to stop there.
Solitude brings you back into everyday life. Presence teaches you to notice what is happening within that everyday life.
Presence does not require solitude.
It does not require silence.
It does not require a distraction-free environment.
It simply requires you to pay attention.
Notice what is happening.
Listen for the promptings of God.
Silence creates space for solitude to happen. In silence and solitude, we turn our attention toward God. For many of us, that is where we become more attentive to His voice.
With continued practice, we can learn to listen for God even in the noise of everyday life.
That is presence in everyday life.
Practicing presence in a distracted world teaches us patience. It teaches us humility. It teaches us to slow down long enough to notice what we might otherwise miss.
The goal isn’t to eliminate every distraction.
The goal is to learn where to turn our attention when the distractions come.
What is keeping you from being present right now?