Episode #229 Best Of: Be Fully Present

Six Problems

• Every minute we spend in the past or future is a minute subtracted from our life span.
• There are no promises of tomorrow, and we are only guaranteed this very moment.
• Our busyness often translates into hurry.
• We tend to spend too much time focusing on the future or preoccupied by the past.
• We will not wake up one day having become someone we have not been becoming.
• We are not as good at faking presence as we’d like to believe.

Six Principles

• Our presence in the presence of others is the best gift we could ever give or receive.
• The only thing that lasts forever is human connection.
• The way we spend today ripples into eternity.
• Every space we share with another human being is a sacred space.
• It doesn’t take a lot of time to connect meaningfully with someone.
• Behind every face is a name, and behind each name is a rich narrative.

Six Practices

• Practice 5 minutes of stillness at the beginning of each day.
• Listen attentively to others’ words instead of preparing your next response.
• Put your phone in its place; that is, put it away in the presence of people.
• Utilize the phrase, “How are you doing, really?”
• Set the tone for your day by wondering, “How many sacred encounters will I have?”
• Say hello to strangers.