Being present, fully, might just be one the hardest things to be in our world today. We are a distracted lot. Emails, social media, children, music, radio, cars, deadlines, and so on. There seems to be a constant pressure to do more. The fear of missing out or FOMO is a constant fear for many of us. Opportunities abound, but we are finite.
Being present, fully, is a choice. A practice requiring regular repetition. It also requires learning the skills of drawing ourselves back from the distraction and of shutting out. I don’t find it easy, but I know it is necessary as a parent, a spouse, and for creating change.
The ever brilliant Sue wrote this simple thought yesterday – very short, but spectacularly wise. We all know instinctively when the ‘other’ is faking be presence. We also know when the ‘other’ is fully present. It is a gift which is unfortunately rare.
Organisations are about systems, but organisations are also about people. And while we may seek to change systems, we always will need to interact with people as part of the change process. And people require presence. Whether you are a change maker, a parent, a colleague, a friend, a leader, a spouse, it doesn’t matter – improving our ability to be fully present with another or a group will improve our lives.
The choice is up to us. And as Sue reminds us, it cannot be faked.
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