Simon Tyler

The opportunity for me to play on the word Presence couldn’t be missed and instantly reminded me of a quote often used by my friend and masterful coach, Laura Haines:

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery
Today is a gift
That’s why we called it the present”

As a coach, one of the most important roles I serve is to bring clients’ focus to the present. Often the busy mind is occupied with thoughts of unfinished past, sometimes even regret or loss still centred in the past. In addition hopes, fears, plans for the future can take people ‘out of the moment’.

Whilst you cannot change the past, you can shift your relationship to it and the effect it has on who you are right now.

How you are in the present has a direct impact on your future, better that way round than allowing a possible future to alter who you are now (NB – you get what you think about).

Not being in the present moment reduces and restricts your brilliant capabilities from coming to the fore. You are thinking thoughts unrelated to the immediate moment, becoming distracted, not noticing stuff and generally missing out on what’s going on.

Getting into the present moment more fully, even just a notch, can be an immense stress reliever, and give you access to your, currently blocked, creative subconscious – the bit that can solve whatever dilemma you are wrestling with.

Sounds obvious and sounds easy doesn’t it?

Before you turn to Christmas cheer to slow down the thought patterns, here’s a 1 minute GP (Get Present) exercise to work with as often as you wish over the weeks ahead.

For one minute, stop and simply notice everything about the moment; where you are; what you can see; what you can hear, taste, smell, feel. Ask yourself the question, “What would getting more present be?”.

At the end of the minute (which may seem like a huge length of time) things will be different, although nothing has changed.

Good luck and keep me informed.

Enjoy your presence and that of the ones around you, you deserve it, you’ve had a great year.