PERMISSION TO BE PRESENT
It sounds kind of silly that sometimes we need someone to tell us that it’s ok to enjoy the present. What many of us don’t realise are the subconscious messages around us all the time telling us to ‘hussle, find your purpose, strive for better, achieve more, be more, do more’. Whilst some of those are important steps in achieving our goals, we can get trapped in a ‘busy’ mindset and not allow ourselves the pleasure of just being.
As a passionate person, I am no exception from this mindset. I have so many wonderful things I want to achieve with Happywhenfit and personally. I want to leave a legacy that stands for something meaningful. What I have realised in reaching for these goals is the importance of creating a mindset that allows space for just enjoying the present, without guilt! You don’t always having to be ticking off something from a to-do list to be ‘worthy’. If that mindset is difficult to shift, try adding things to your list like catching up with friends, enjoying a walk outside, going to the movies, or practising some self care steps. These kind of activities are equally if not more important than the steps we need to take to achieve our goals. What do our goals even stand for if we don’t have people to stand with? How are our achievements measured if they come at the detriment of our health and well-being?
“What do our goals even stand for if we don’t have people to stand with?”
Mindset is a powerful tool. When you see someone caught in their busyness, give them permission to be present. Invite them for a coffee, give them a little note of encouragement, or offer a random act of kindness that will share with them the opportunity to step out of a rushing mind. Sometimes that’s all we need to bring us back into the present moment, the permission we can’t always seem t give ourselves. The permission to be happy as we are and be grateful for what we have right now. There will always be new goals and aspirations in life, but don’t become so consumed by them that you deny yourself the joy of the present by becoming stuck in the future. They say depression is a mind stuck in the past and anxiety is a mind focused on the future. What about a mind in the present? A space for celebrating all of the positive things in your life now. Even if it is just for a moment of someone’s day, what a beautiful gift to be able to share with them. The joy of right now.
“Sometimes that’s all we need to bring us back into the present moment, the permission we can’t always seem to give ourselves”
To all of the special people in my life who take the time to give me permission to be present, thank you. To all of you reading now, I encourage you to be that person for someone else because chances are that act of kindness will reward you with the same gift of present joy.
And if know one has given you permission yet to relish in your present moment, I’m giving it to you now…
I, Danae Cornford of Happywhenfit, give you full permission to be present. To celebrate life exactly as it is right now, to share that joy with others and to create space for positivity to flourish.
Love Danae
xx
