Society has long recognised the need for physical health. Thankfully we are now also far more conscious of the need to focus on our mental health.
Our prehistoric brains were hard wired to help us identify and avoid threat. That could have been from other tribes or wild animals intent on killing us. Thankfully we live in very different environments now and the majority of us are no longer facing the daily risk of death.
The challenge is that our brain has not evolved at the same pace as our environment and is still hardwired to identify threat. As a consequence we spend an inordinate amount of time focused on our fears and listening to the incessant chatter they create in our minds. This in turn creates worry, anxiety and stress which is disempowering for our mindset and mental health.
A widely prescribed antidote to quiet this chatter is for us to become ‘present’ which is defined as:
“Fully focused on or involved in what one is doing or experiencing.”
Numerous studies have shown that finding ways to become present in our daily lives is a key to happiness and sustainable fulfilment.
However, in our constantly connected digital world, how often are we truly present in the undertakings of our daily lives?
Our quest to become present is a unifying goal, but there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach.
From a personal point of view, I have enjoyed immersing myself in meditation as part of my daily morning routine and have found it to be extremely impactful.
However, my wife, an open minded and spiritual person, struggles to clear her mind through this practice. Instead, she has found alternate ways of reaching this desired state, such as through high impact exercise.
Just because one methodology such as meditation works for some does not mean it must work for all and you should not be frustrated by this. Instead, experiment with other strategies such as exercise, reading, listening to music etc to find what works best for you.
We would love to learn about the strategies you use to find presence. Please email us at hello@thelonelyleader.co.uk
Comments