Living in the present is such a rare and valuable commodity, especially in this day and age with social media. Within the attention economy, our attention is being bought and sold on the market, businesses and people clamouring for attention, likes, and comments. Many of us forget to live in the present moment without being controlled by the past or future. Society rewards the few that are able to remain present; we are drawn to these people because there is something unexplainably magnetic about them that we refer to these unique individuals as having “presence.” Has remaining present become so rare that we have given a word to individuals who are able to embody it? In addition, they are considered society’s crème de la crème. We find ourselves drawn to these individuals because they seem to transcend the physical realm and hold some sort of secret that we wish we could know more. These individuals have the mystical characteristic we call charisma primarily because of their presence.
We often lose ourselves in the mind, distracted by intrusive thoughts and emotions of the past, and fears and concerns of the future. Peace can never be attained until we learn to let go of expectations and fears of the future, and limiting beliefs (P, 2017). Being in a state of presence, means that you are aware of your thoughts and emotions (P, 2017). This is why we are drawn to charismatic people who give us their undivided attention. These rare unicorns make us feel as though we are the most important person in the world.
Osler wants to remind us that we should not let the mistakes of the past paralyze and cripple efforts of today, robbing us from joy and fulfillment (Watson, 1951: p.217). Osler’s simple philosophy inspired many to go on to live happy and fulfilling lives with the advice: “Live neither is the past nor in the future, but let each day’s work absorb all your interest, energy, and enthusiasm. The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today’s work superbly well” (Watson, 2951: p 216). Many people become fearful, anxious, or discouraged because their lives have no turned out the way they expected. They fret about their career, family life, intimate relationship, and financial burdens. In reality, worrying about these robs us of not only the power of the present but also of our happiness and fulfillment. By embodying presence, we enrich our relationships by giving our undivided attention and enjoy a more fulfilling life. Ultimately, Osler eloquently encourages us to live in the present and plan for the future.
Christina
References
P, S. (2017, Oct 12). 9 Quotes about Presence That Will Blow Your Mind. Retrieved on November 18, 2018, from https://www.feelingoodfeelingreat.com/2017/10/12/quotes-about-presence/
Watson, L. E. (1951). Light from Many Lamps. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.
Hi Christina,
You wrote a great post that reminds everyone of what is important. There are so many people living in the past. They are so full of regrets that they aren’t able to enjoy the present. While this is something I have never struggled with, I do struggle with being too focused on the future. Being a type A planner, I’m always focused on what needs to be accomplished next. At home I’ll be playing with my kids while checking my emails and thinking about all the chores I need to finish before heading to bed. At work I’ll be sitting in a meeting thinking about and making a list of the tasks I need to accomplish. Even if I’m watching a movie at home with my husband, I’ll be checking my phone. I find it so hard to truly be present because it can feel like I’m not getting enough done. But sometimes the task that is the most important to complete, is to be present.
So thank you for your wonderful post and the great reminder to me about the importance of being present.
Cheers.