More Presence Less Process

I've been thinking about the idea of being present.  What does that really mean, and why is it important?  When we are emotionally unbalanced , our thoughts are consumed by things like: "are they looking at me?" "Everyone can see that I'm a mess."  "He probably thinks I'm a crazy." "I can't take this, I need to go home." They can also be more benign, with thoughts about appearance, thinking that we don't fit in, or whether we're doing "it" right, whatever the "it" may be.  With all those thoughts, we are not very present in the moment.  We are caught up in the process of tolerating our emotions while just being, instead of just being.  When we are present, we can really listen and not just hear.  It's getting out of our heads and learning to relax, be authentic, and deepen the connections with others and our environment.  It is important to the degree that we can appreciate what is happening right now, and not regret missing out on what just took place with the people we care about, want to know better, or the simple miracles of life around us.  

How do we achieve presence and focus less on process?  Like anything of value, it takes effort to create a new habit. It is really connecting to what is happening right now, at the same time being bold enough to let go of the negative self-talk that distracts us from truly being who we are capable of being, and allowing us to connect more deeply with others.  There are many books on mindfulness, meditation, and even the practice of yoga, that can go more thoroughly into the idea of being present, but I'll leave that discovery to you.  For me, the feeling of the keys as I type these words, the whirr of the air conditioner in the background, the breath I take in, making my chest rise and fall, remind me of what is happening in this moment.  I'm smiling, because it feels good to focus on the present and not worry so much about the process.  Wishing all of you the greatest gift; the present.