Recently, a mentor and I were talking about sitting in traffic and waiting. He said something that stopped me in my tracks. He said – “If you’re waiting for something, you’re not present.”

Wow! I immediately felt feelings of judgment and defensiveness. After sitting with it for a bit, I gradually realized, he was right. 

I hadn’t thought about it before, I was busy waiting. You probably are, too.

I think we’re all guilty of it. We impatiently wait in traffic or in a line at the store. We eagerly countdown the days until the weekend, hoping for some relaxation and fun. We anxiously wait for our business to grow to a certain level, convinced it’ll bring us the happiness and fulfillment we’ve been craving. 

The thing is, when we’re always waiting for something, we’re missing out on the most incredible parts of life. Think of it this way, whenever you are waiting for something you are living in either the future or the past. You are either thinking about your plans, what you need to get to (future), what ‘this waiting’ is hampering you from doing: my day will be great once I get out of this traffic, I’d make the right connection if this coffee line would just move, once I graduate (get the promotion, etc.) I’ll ____ (fill in the blank). Or you are in a story from your past: I always end up in the slow lane, I’m going to be late and get written up, again, I can’t catch a break. 

Whenever we’re waiting we’re either in our future or our past, certainly not fully present in the here and now. The most fascinating thing is that the ‘now’ – that’s where all the beauty and opportunities lie.

The Magic of Presence:

Picture this: a moment so breathtaking that time stands still. It’s like watching a stunning sunset that leaves you in awe, or witnessing something so beautiful that it steals your breath away. That is presence, my friends—a state of mind that transcends ordinary existence, opens your heart and connects you to oneness. And there are two exceptionally cool things about it. 

1. It completely transforms your life.
2. It’s something you can actually practice daily, regardless of circumstance.

Practice: Start Small

The next time you’re stuck in what feels like a never-ending line, instead of mindlessly scrolling through your phone or tapping your foot impatiently, try this: shift your perspective. Look around you and become present to the people nearby. Notice their expressions, the vibrant colors surrounding you, what do you notice? Drop in and listen to the sounds, now go beyond the obvious ones and notice the subtle ones. Breathe into the space you feel around you. Extend your sense of touch, taste the air, smell the nuances. It’s like hitting the pause button on the hustle and bustle, giving yourself a standing moment of pure connection.

When you make this presencing practice a regular part of your life, something magical happens. Every day moments start to feed you instead of draining you. High-pressure situations become easy and you remain calm and focused. Chaos is something you see through and doesn’t overwhelm you. You maintain sight of what truly matters as life meanders and others lose their way. With clarity and composure, you take on challenges easier than ever. 

Why THIS practice?

You may be thinking, “that all sounds great, and I really don’t think I have time for this.” That’s the beauty of this particular presencing practice – you do it when you’re not doing anything else – when you’ve waiting! You’ve seen the meditation studies, all the benefits, both personally and professionally, lowered incidents of disease, stress management without drugs, clarity and focus, etc. You might have even tried to meditate, or have your own daily meditation practice. Well, this is a form of meditation – one that goes with you all day long wherever you are.

Whether you realize it or not, the present moment is where the real magic of life happens. When you’re fully present, you deepen and refine your senses. You notice the vibrant hues of your environment, hear the subtle whispers of inspiration, and feel a deep connection to the world around you. THIS is where you step into the advantage of turning up the volume on life and expanding your horizons.

This isn’t just about personal growth—it’s a game-changer in business too.

When you do this practice, presence in your professional interactions deepens and amazing things unfold. You build stronger connections with your colleagues, clients, and partners because really listening and communicating with empathy has become your modus operandi. You create an environment of trust and understanding, fostering collaboration and growth because of who you’ve become. And let’s not forget how it unleashes your creative powers, helping you innovate and lead with authenticity.

In case that’s not enough, here’s the real game changer: presence is the key to unlocking your true passions and purpose. By tapping into the core of your being, you radiate confidence and magnetism. You become a magnet, attracting opportunities aligned with your deepest desires. 

Be Mindful of Busy

While we’re on this journey of embracing presence, becoming mindful of the trap of “being busy waiting” is a superpower. It’s so easy to get caught up in constantly yearning for, and pushing into, the future. Planning, preparing, and looking forward to the future is important, and it can pull you away from the present, leaving an emptiness that you can’t fill no matter how much you achieve. You already know this because you’re living it. You feel the hole and you keep trying to fill it with the ‘next’ thing, accomplishment or person.

Life is happening right now, while you are waiting for the next thing you have planned. Invest some of your energy in claiming the beauty of the now moment – start building that muscle today so that you can:

• Feel the fulfillment you’ve been seeking
• Notice and celebrate the small joys
• Dance beautifully with the unexpected surprises
• Cherish the connections that make life oh-so-meaningful

Trust me—you’ll unlock your world of magic.

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In case this is the first time we’re meeting, I’m Maren, an executive life coach, speaker, dancer, and serial entrepreneur empowering you to step into your purpose and live your most fulfilled life. To learn more about how we can work together to uncover your unique gifts and get you dancing with life, click here. For corporate trainings or inquiries regarding speaking engagements, please complete this form.