One of the fundamental principles of coaching is the practice of what I call: Present Perfect.  The art of being in the now here (Brennan Manning is known for saying that you are either Now Here or Nowhere).  This practice is known by other names such as process or mindfulness.

The lack of mindfulness or living in the now creates a frantic pace to our lives that is fraught with stress, limiting our experiences, and not embracing life to the fullest.  When we are fully present aka present perfect, we are able to fully experience life.

So how do we live in the now? Here are a few ways:

• Record Your Moments: Record some random moments for a week.
  • Set your alarm on your smart phone or your watch or whenever your phone rings in the next week STOP what you are doing
  • Carry a 3×5 card with you and write down what you are doing at the moment when your alarm goes off.  Ask yourself what are you doing in this moment? What do you notice? What are you feeling? What are you thinking?
  • This is a great way to start to exercise your living in the moment muscles…
• Freeze Frame: This week when you are with your loved ones stop and ponder:
  • Are you fully present?
  • What are you feeling, hearing, tasting, seeing, doing….
• Body Check: Stop for a moment and check in with your body…
  • Let go of your current struggles/to do list/etc.
  • Notice your breathing
  • Notice places in your body that are tense and relax them
  • Take note of what happens when you do these things…what is possible from this place that wasn’t before?

So how do YOU live life in the now? Any ideas? Please share your ways/tricks to stay in the present, now here of your life.