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“Take care and say this with presence of mind” (Terence).
PRESENCE OF MIND IS A HARD THING FOR BUSY PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE. The more we do, the less we think about what we do. Most days find us rushing through such a crowded agenda, we have little opportunity to concentrate. When our minds are so urgently pulled forward by the next thing to be done, they don’t get a chance to dwell fully on the words and deeds of the current moment.
Consider Terence’s statement quoted above: “Take care and say this with presence of mind.” How much of what any of us has said in the last twenty-four hours has been said “with presence of mind”? Probably no more than a small fraction. Frankly, most of our words are said while our minds are on “automatic,” and the majority of our deeds could be described as “going with the flow.” If you don’t have that problem, you are living on a level most of us haven’t reached.
But what is “presence of mind”? It’s the state in which we not only think consciously about what we do, but we savor and relish these things as they are happening. Assuming that what we’re doing is aligned with our conscience, we miss a great opportunity if, as we act, we don’t consider our actions and enjoy them, gratefully aware of ourselves, our deeds, and those with whom we may be interacting. Life is made up of moments, and if we’re not “present” in these as they pass by, there is simply no other happiness we can enjoy. So, being mindful of our moments is a habit as wise as it is joyful.
When we fail in the matter of presence, one of the sad aspects of the problem is that we fail to impart to others the acknowledgment they deserve. In these days of multichannel communications, it’s rare to communicate with anyone, even face to face, and feel that you have that person’s undivided attention. Our minds are so overloaded, we’re not as present for one another as we should be.
But try it — once or twice a day — and see what a difference it makes. As you interact with someone, honor that person by being completely present for them. Say, by the attention you devote to them, “I am aware of you. I am conscious of you. I am thinking of you, and in this moment, I am at your service.”
“The greatest gift you can give another is the purity of your attention” (Richard Moss).
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com
