Quote of the day (long, but worth it): Being really, truly present is a fabulous feeling. It is a rare combination of serenity and adrenaline. You feel serene because you are living right here, right now. All your senses are focused on the question or the ball or the snow or whatever it is. There is no fragmentation of your attention. Preoccupations about what has happened in the past or what might happen in the future recede. It feels as though time expands or slows down and you dont have to think. Your body and mind are one. Worries evaporate, decisions are easily made, and everything flows through you. The boundaries between yourself and others seem to disappear or thin; there is a seamless understanding. At the same time, such moments are shot through with adrenaline because you dont know how they will unfold. There is a charge, a thrill of seeing how this moment will change things. The word is said, the ball is hit, the turn is made and you are carried along with it, you know not where. Its a rush. These are the kinds of sensations that tell you when youre present. Whether you are in a meeting, on the squash court, or riding a motorcycle, the feeling is much the same. Being present is about cultivating an exquisite quality of attention. The quality of attention, simultaneously open and focused, is powerful. It gives you options, choices, and abilities you might not otherwise realize you have. Moreover it is deeply satisfying, not only to yourself, but to others as well because we love to be around people who are really present. It is an enthralling quality when you encounter it in someone else, which is why we often comment upon leaders or performers who have great presence. Robert Poynton, from the book Everythings an Offer: How to do more with less
Posted on: Sun, 25 May 2014 02:09:15 +0000
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