Be in the Moment and the "Now"

Someone wrote me this week to ask a question about being in the moment and focusing on the now. This person wanted to know what that really is, and how to get there. Since it was such a great and timely question, I thought I’d share my response…

When I first began coaching, I sometimes enjoyed playing a little game. With each new client, I mentally assessed how present they were in the coaching session. I could assess this rather easily by either watching or listening to them, and noticing where their focus was when I spoke, and of course, how they answered my questions. It became quite apparent to me that whatever level of "presence" showed up for their coaching session was the same level of presence in their life. In fact, I don't think I ever first worked with someone who was actually living in the now.

Most people are either worried about the future or regretting the past, and so, not here, now. Presence in the moment is tricky. Many people would say that it means focusing on what's happening at that moment, and being at full concentration. I don't think so. Someone can be focusing on the moment, but interpreting that moment from their past experiences or fears, in which case they are actually not in the moment but instead, they are allowing the past to be present with them.

So truly being present now doesn't require concentration, effort, or focus. It requires a level of consciousness that has released the past and cleared the worries of the future. Understand that what I just wrote was a short paragraph with a tall order; being conscious to the point that you are truly here and in the moment is a lifetime journey. We never actually get "there," but we can work to improve our "beingness."

I don't want to make this a commercial, but you asked, and so I'll tell you that raising consciousness, one person at a time is iPEC's mission, and besides our full coach training program, you may want to look into the Life Potentials Training, as well as our Self-Mastery coaching program called the Law of Being. Info about these can be found on our website at www.ipeccoaching.com.

If you have a question – whether it be about coach training, consciousness, human potential, or even what I think of the Mets this season, I invite you to ask me, comment here, or by emailing me at bruce@ipeccoaching.com.