Recently, I began to take notice that my “to-do” list kept growing. While it’s good to have that ongoing desire to feel a sense of accomplishment, there is also a trap that exists—the trap that when you are striving for more, you feel you need to do more. The belief that the more you check off the list, the more you are producing.
As this list kept growing, I found that I became less and less present. I realized I was missing the blessings that were right in front of me because I was so focused on “what’s next”! I would hear what someone was saying to me, but I wasn’t truly listening.
It was time for me not just to take notice, but to take action by being intentional about how I was investing my time. I began to eliminate things that didn’t align with my priorities. I intentionally slowed down, practicing meditation and spending more time in prayer. I soon discovered the benefits of being fully present.
While there are numerous benefits to being mindful, there were three key lessons that I learned:
- Increased awareness of emotions. Whether the emotion was positive or negative, I was able to control my reaction more because I could recognize how I was feeling.
- Feeling more relaxed. Too often, I was more focused on the future and what was next on the list. Focusing on the moment I was experiencing helped me avoid looking ahead and allowed me to execute what was right in front of me.
- Better connections. By making a conscious effort to listen, I found myself with increased gratitude for my relationships.
Practicing the power of presence helped me in more ways than I could imagine. It was a reminder that it’s good to slow down, count your blessings, and find joy in areas of life that I had been allowing to pass me by.
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