How to Be More Present

Do people ever tell you that you’re not being present? Do you find yourself thinking 
about everything and anything other than where you are? If this is the case, then there 
are chances that you’re not normally very connected to the moment. The good news is 
that presence is something you can learn, and all it really takes is a lot of focused and 
deliberate practice. In the next few paragraphs, you’ll find a few points on how to be 
more present. 


Make Mindfulness a Habit

What does it mean to make mindfulness a habit? Simply put, this is just an expression 
of the idea that it’s important to fully experience every moment that you can. You take 
time to really mull over things in your mind before making decisions. The goal here is to 
truly take you time and focus on each step of the way. This ensures that you make 
decisive action, but remain sensitive to the outcome and how you are affected 
throughout the process. This high level of self-awareness can help you to spot 
problematic areas that you might not notice if you were going through the motions in a 
fog. 


Listen Without Formulating a Response

When you’re having a discussion with someone, are you focused on the words that 
they're saying, or the words that you’re going to say when they stop talking? This is a 
bad habit that can lead to a lot of misunderstandings and hurt feelings. When you’re 
busy thinking about what you’re going to say, you’re really not listening to what the other 
person is saying. Not only is this a somewhat rude practice, but it also leads to one-
sided conversations. Try taking in what they have to say. Really listen when they tell 
you something, and that way when you eventually do respond, it will be something 
meaningful that will make them feel valued as a friend should. 


Pay Attention to Your Body 

Your body is well adapted to being able to deliver clues about how it is doing. When you 
feel tension and stress, there is a major possibility that you’re reacting to something that 
is bothering you. Do your best to always get at the root of the issue instead of trying to 
silence the symptoms. In any case, it’s always a good idea to pay attention, because 
your body could be trying to warn you about any number of things. 


Be Secure With What You Don’t Know 

It’s impossible to see every aspect of every situation, so try to be okay with that fact. 
You’re probably not going to have all of the answers you need, but it you should be 
okay with finding out what it takes to go out and find the answers. No one will expect 
you to know it all, so you shouldn't expect it of yourself. 



