The art of being in the present is not easy! And at the same time, it is necessary to avoid activating the circuits in the brain that can result in inflammation of the physical body and mental/emotional discontentment.
In this article I will tell you five different things you can do to anchor yourself in the present and enhance your enjoyment in life AND your capacity to heal.
One: Meditation
The tool par excellence right? Who does not know the art of meditation or mindfulness? But another very different thing is to practice it or have the perseverance of carrying it out every day, or most days, of your life.
When we are in a state of meditation or mindfulness, we stop thinking about the future or the past and try to be in the present. This can be supported through guided meditations with voice and music, only with music, or simply without needing any outside input besides our direct environment.
If you are just starting out, it is helpful to use music and/or a voice that relaxes you and allows you to be guided calmly. It is normal that during meditation you have moments when you get lost in thoughts, often things like what are you going to put on the shopping list, or what do you want for dinner today, etc. It is normal, so avoid judging yourself in these moments, rather just let these thoughts come in, and then, go out without resistance.
Every time you sit down to meditate it can be a completely different experience! As you make it an everyday habit in your life, you will be able to experience other sensations during the meditation session, such as the connection with deep feelings of love, or many others that can create dramatic shifts in your overall well being.
Remember, meditation is not the same for everyone, be curious, and enjoy whatever surprise sitting down and tuning in with yourself and the moment has for you.
Two: Nature Bathing
There is no better grounding than going back to our origin, that of nature. We have become increasingly separated from nature, and now we tend to live surrounded by electromagnetic waves such as Wi-Fi, electricity, antennas, and we tend to live in concrete cities with artificial lights 24/7. Although we may have grown used to this in ways, know that it negatively affects us in many ways. Consider how much chronic disease exists today, and also the prevalence of mental illness, anxiety, depression and ocd for example.
If you do not live in the countryside or in the mountains, and for whatever reason it is necessary that you continue living in the city, go to nature on weekends, or during the week if you can go for a little walk, whatever is possible for you is of benefit.
Can you maybe have a garden at home and take care of your plants? Or maybe you can’t have a whole garden but a few plants in containers on a patio that you can tend to?
Surround yourself with things that remind you of nature as much as you can, create a relaxed and calm space at home, with warm colors that always return you to the peace of mind you need.
Try and really be still and present in nature when you can. Notice everything, notice how it instantly relaxes the nervous system and brings in a sense of peace and joy.
Three: Grounding/Earthing
Grounding is becoming more and more popular and its benefits are well researched? Essentially we have direct contact with the earth, by taking off our shoes and putting our feet, or even sitting or laying on the earth, in the sand of the sea, in the grass of the field, in the rocks of the mountain, in the water of the river or the sea.
This connection neutralizes positively charged free radicals, reducing oxidative stress, lowering inflammation and calming the nervous system.
Hugging trees can also work for us, if you can’t take off your shoes, touch the earth with your hands.
Did you know that the more you study, the more we know that the planet’s trees and plants are connected and form a huge communication network? I believe that in the future we will understand even more in regards to why we need to return to our origins, spend more time connected with other living beings and less with machines and virtual social networks. We need more community and less superficiality.
Four: Do a Social Media Detox
I challenge everyone to take regular breaks from social media and notice what life looks like without it! Would we realize how productive we are without social media? How much time do we spend looking at other people’s photos and videos? What I have discovered personally is that what can happen is we can miss the important things in life by being overly tuned into our virtual world and not tuned in enough to what is right in front of us.
Yes, social media has been a blessing to create new job opportunities and to connect with precious souls who live far away; and at the same time it also creates a tendency for information overload! It can 100% alter hormone balance and production as well as immune function, and for many is a source of physical and mental/emotional stress. Consider how being so connected to many “images” that people put forth affects our self-esteem. We can consciously or unconsciously end up constantly comparing ourselves with lives that seem perfect and never feel like we or our lives are good enough.
Five: Find Nourishing Hobbies
Anything that you are passionate about doing will bring you into the present. This can be reading, sunbathing, talking with friends, painting, playing music or singing, dancing, running, playing sports, horseback riding, the list goes on and on. Anything that we choose to do for enjoyment (rather than work) enhances our presence and inspiration within our lives. Many hobbies also help to build social networks and community as well.
Motivation is what guides us in life. A person without direction or motivation, without interests or hobbies, is more likely to feel anxious, depressed and discontent. So take some time to consider your hobbies. What do you enjoy doing other than your job? If you don’t have any, I challenge you to find one and see how life changes! I also challenge you to not worry about how “good” you are at any particular hobby. See if you can learn and seek mastery without needing it to be perfect to enjoy!
BONUS: Put Your Phone Away
When possible try and put your phone away for chunks of time, either leaving it in the house or putting it in a purse, etc. Enjoy the present and the wonderful connections you have created with YOUR special people and with Nature, and the beauty of life itself.