Be. Here. Now.

Quiet, brain, or I'll stab you with a Q-tip

We’re in a new year, and for the first time in several years, I’ve made some resolutions: read my Bible daily, read more often, be more aware of my overall presence.

But one I’m having a little more trouble with is being present in the moment, putting aside the thoughts and issues not directly in front of me and just…being.

I think most people are having this problem, at least a little, and especially if they’re on the Twitters.

In case you are, here’s a three point guide that I’m starting to use myself to try to increase my mindfulness.

Be. Just be. In your moment of mindfulness, don’t imagine yourself as anything other than how you are. Just exist in that moment. You’re not perfect; you’re not horrible. You’re just you, and you should let yourself be nothing more or less.

Here. Most of us spend way too much time thinking of being somewhere else instead of where we are. That’s not altogether bad. You have to plan where you want to go on vacation before you get there. But in your moment, be right here.

Now. Later today or tomorrow is what is usually on our minds, and with good reason. You can’t plan a vacation unless you know where you’re going, and you don’t plan a vacation right before you leave. At a minimum, you have to know that your next few days are free of responsibilities. However, we spend a lot of time thinking about tomorrow for people who are not promised the end of today. Sometimes, we need to stop thinking about tomorrow and just be in this moment.

Take some time today. Put your phone down. Turn your monitor off. Get rid of whatever distractions you can for 60 seconds (or 30 seconds or 15 seconds…whatever you can spare). Are there sounds? Listen to them. Perhaps there are flowers close by and the scent is in the air. Smell it.

Just come to a complete stop of any thoughts that aren’t focused on that exact moment.

Everything else will be there when you return to normal activity. But for a moment, Be Here Now.