Beauty of being present
The Weight of "Somewhere Else"
We live in a world that rewards us for looking ahead. We are trained to build five-year plans, curate our future legacies, and analyze our past mistakes until they feel like heavy anchors.
But in the midst of all this mental time travel, we often forget one fundamental truth: life is only ever happening right now.
There are moments when life simply asks us to be here. Not in tomorrow’s "ifs," not in yesterday’s "whys," but right here in the physical space our bodies inhabit.
Yet, if you find staying present difficult, you aren’t alone. Being present is significantly harder than it sounds.
The Loud Inside Voice
For many of us, the loudest person we know is the one living inside our own heads.
This "inside voice" is a constant narrator. It critiques our choices, whispers fears about things that haven't happened, and replays embarrassing moments from years ago like a broken record.
I have a really loud inner voice I just find myself lost on hearing what it has to say, cringing about the past or dreaming of the future.
Most times I look back and I can't even remember looking at the face of the person I was just talking to because I'm lost in my thoughts.
When your mind is that loud, it becomes easy to spend your entire day listening to the internal noise rather than experiencing the external world.
You might find yourself:
Daydreaming of the Future: Using "one day" as a getaway car to escape a present that feels mundane or difficult.
Ruminating on the Past: Re-living old conversations and feeling the sting of old embarrassments as if they are happening in real-time.
The "Hurry" Filter: Moving through your day as if the current task is just an obstacle to the next one.
When we spend our time in these mental landscapes, our actual lives pass us by. We miss the sunsets, the taste of our food, and the genuine connection in a friend’s eyes because we are too busy attending a meeting in our minds.
What Being Present Actually Means
There is a common misconception that being present means you have reached a state of Zen where you no longer have goals or memories.
That isn't the case.
Being present isn’t about ignoring your past or pretending you aren’t hoping for more.
It is about learning to notice the small, quiet things that the "loud voice" tries to drown out.
It is a soft invitation to witness your life as it unfolds. Presence is:
The Warmth of the Cup: Feeling the literal heat of your coffee or tea against your palms before you take the first sip.
The Sound of Your Breath: Noticing the rise and fall of your chest—the rhythm that has been supporting you since the day you were born.
The Silence Between Words: Finding the peace in the pauses of a conversation.
The Weight of Your Body: Recognizing how it feels when you finally stop rushing and allow gravity to hold you.
Why We Run From the "Now"
If the present moment is so peaceful, why do we flee from it? Often, it’s because the present requires honesty.
When you slow down long enough, you realize how much noise you’ve been using to cover up your feelings.
To be present is to allow yourself to feel whatever is right here—even if that feeling is sadness, exhaustion, or uncertainty.
But here is the secret: when you stop running, those feelings lose their power to chase you.
When you are gentle with your pace and open to the moment just as it is, you realize that you don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need to be here.
The Practice of Grounding
The more you practice "being here," the more grounded you feel.
It is like a muscle that grows stronger with every repetition.
As you become more centered, life begins to soften.
The worries that felt like mountains begin to shrink back into their proper size.
They become manageable because you are no longer fighting the ghosts of the future; you are only handling the reality of today.
Everything you need to move forward—the clarity, the strength, the peace—begins with this moment.
And this moment, exactly as it is, is already enough.
How to Start Today: 3 Soft Practices
The Sensory Reset: Stop what you are doing. Name three things you can hear and two things you can feel. This pulls the "loud voice" back into the physical world.
Breathe Into the Noise: When your mind starts criticizing, don't fight it. Acknowledge it ("I hear you, fear") and take one deep, conscious breath.
The "Savor" Rule: Choose one activity today—washing dishes, walking to your car, eating an apple—and do it without any music, podcasts, or distractions. Just do the thing.
Do you struggle with a "loud inside voice"? What are the small things in your daily life that help you feel most present?
Share your thoughts in the comments below. Sometimes, hearing how others navigate the noise helps us all feel a little more grounded.
If this spoke to your heart, please share it with someone who might need a reminder to slow down today.
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