Episode #190 Be Fully Present (EC #1)

Five Problems

• We miss out on life’s most meaningful moments when our minds are not actually here.
• Every minute we spend wondering about the past or worrying about the future subtracts a minute from our lives.
• The struggle to be fully present is a human one, and it has existed for generations.
• To worry is to borrow sorrow from tomorrow and drag it into today.
• The present is often imperfect, so it is tempting to dream of an imaginary perfect future.

Eight Principles

• Life doesn’t happen in the past or future but in this very moment in time.
• While our circumstances are not fully under our control, much of where we find ourselves today is the result of our choices.
• The grass is greener wherever we water it.
• The greatest gift we can ever give is our presence.
• The only thing that lasts forever is human connection.
• We can’t control whether a thought enters our minds, but we have the power to decide whether it stays there.
• There is something likable, even delightful, about every person we encounter.
• Life may be short, but it is also significant.

Five Practices

• Whenever you experience discontent with your current circumstances, remind yourself, “I chose this.”
• Schedule your priorities and design your day to ensure that your relationships with others aren’t left to chance.
• Put your phone in its place, that is, put it away when you are in the presence of people.
• Let go of the grudge, the bitterness, and the regret that hold you hostage in the past.
• Pause at regular intervals throughout your day to reflect on the realities, “This interaction is spiritual, and this person is sacred.”