Being fully present in the current moment allows for a deeper appreciation of what is happening around us.
Formal meditation can be used as a practice to bring awareness back to the present moment in real-life situations.
Deep dives
Experiencing the Present Moment
The podcast episode focuses on the importance of experiencing the present moment fully. The host shares an anecdote about a family trip to a museum, where his daughters were distracted by thoughts of eating at a restaurant later. The host emphasizes the need to be fully present and not let anticipation pull us away from the current experience. He encourages bringing full attention to the present moment, using techniques like meditation and appreciation. The episode highlights the significance of experiencing each moment as it comes and goes.
Bringing Full Awareness to Tasks
In this episode, the host discusses the importance of bringing full awareness to tasks at hand. He notes that distractions are common, be it during work, conversation, or even meditation. The host suggests using formal meditation as practice to bring awareness back to the present moment in real-world situations. He introduces a meditation called 'Appreciate the Moment' available in the app. Additionally, he provides questions to ask oneself to refocus on the present moment, such as 'What do I see?', 'What do I hear?', and 'What feelings are present right now?' The episode concludes by emphasizing the value of being fully present and enjoying what is happening in the here and now.
It's natural to anticipate what's to come, especially if it's something we're looking forward to. Today, Kessonga reminds us to appreciate what's right in front of us.
Kessonga holds a Masters degree in Social Work, and is a Certified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Teacher. He also serves as an adjunct Mindfulness instructor at UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Prior to joining Headspace he had his own private practice as a licensed acupuncturist and an outpatient psychotherapist. You can reach out on Instagram here!