{"id":183,"date":"2013-12-01T01:47:18","date_gmt":"2013-12-01T01:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/heartofthesoul\/?p=183"},"modified":"2013-12-01T01:47:18","modified_gmt":"2013-12-01T01:47:18","slug":"the-gift-of-presence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/heartofthesoul\/2013\/12\/the-gift-of-presence.html","title":{"rendered":"The Gift of Presence"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Jodi<\/a>As I sat down to write this post, I settled into my chair, put on my headphones, took a few deep breaths, closed my eyes, and waited for the words to appear.<\/p>\n

And in that moment of sitting and waiting, I realized something: I was hungry. It didn\u2019t make sense to be hungry \u2013 I had just eaten lunch an hour before. It wasn\u2019t convenient that I was hungry \u2013 I had just gotten comfortable and was prepared to write.<\/p>\n

But the fact was still there: I was hungry. My stomach was growling. This was honestly a shock to me not only because it didn\u2019t make much sense but also because I hadn\u2019t even realized it until I slowed down and settled into the quiet \u2013 until I allowed myself a free moment to check in with my body and listen to what it wanted me to know.<\/p>\n

I am constantly running from one project to the next. I am constantly either wrapped up in my head or consumed in my spirituality. And, to be honest, my body\u2019s needs frequently are an afterthought.<\/p>\n

I can get so wrapped up in what I\u2019m doing that it’s not uncommon for me to spend several hours in one position \u2013 not realizing that my leg is asleep or that I am hungry or that I have had to go to the bathroom for hours. I so often forget to listen to my body.<\/p>\n

And I have a feeling I\u2019m not alone in this. I have a feeling that you, too, have been guilty of pushing back your eating schedule in order to complete a project. Or you, too, may have been so engrossed in what you were doing that you forgot to get up and walk around, even though your foot went to sleep. I have a feeling that you know what I\u2019m talking about when I say that you didn\u2019t even realize you were hungry \u2013 until you stopped, slowed down, and were present enough to hear your stomach growl. Until you brought your mind and heart into the present moment.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m realizing that it\u2019s this presence that is so important for each of us. It\u2019s this presence that holds the key to our happiness and our awareness and our health and our ability to truly enjoy our life.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s all about being in the moment. Recognizing where we are in the moment. Giving ourselves permission to slow down and really feel the moment \u2013 whatever that may mean for the particular moment that we\u2019re in. And then honoring our own needs and giving ourselves whatever it is that we need (whether it\u2019s food or love or attention or understanding or sleep).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s sort of funny to admit that if I hadn\u2019t of sat down, focused on my breathing, and quieted my mind in order to write this post, I wouldn\u2019t have realized how my body had been sending me a message for who knows how long: it was hungry. I have no idea how many hours would have gone by \u2013 how long I would\u2019ve pushed through and kept going and continued working before I realized that I was truly needing to eat.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a good wake-up call for me \u2013 a helpful reminder to get into the habit of checking in with my body throughout the day. To take time to ask it what it needs from me and to actually give it that.<\/p>\n

And you can do the same. Rather than running from one project to the next or one task to the next, to give yourself moments of quiet in between. To give yourself permission to check in (even for a brief moment) with your body and tune into what it needs you to know.<\/p>\n

Maybe you can do this right now. Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths in and out. And scan your body. Start with your head and work your way all the way down to the tips of your toes. What is it telling you? What do you hear or feel? What does it need your support with?<\/p>\n

Would you be willing to offer yourself this gift of presence? Would you be willing to give yourself whatever your body is asking of you? A meal, a break, a walk, a laugh?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I truly hope so. Because I have a feeling that when you\u2019re working as a team, you and your body will be much more powerful and much better able to move through life joyously.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

And it all starts with one single moment of presence.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to go honor my body by giving it some food. And I hope you\u2019ll go now and honor your body by giving it exactly what it needs as well.<\/p>\n

I have a feeling we\u2019ll both feel much better, too. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Hugs,<\/p>\n

Jodi<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"about
\n<\/a>Jodi Chapman is a bestselling author, an award-winning blogger, and a soulful community builder.\u00a0She lives her life with love and faith in the driver\u2019s seat, and she hopes to leave a trail of inspiration wherever she goes. She believes that we each have the ability to hear our soul\u2019s whisper and create our best lives. She would love to connect with you!<\/p>\n

Website<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2665 \u00a0\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2665 \u00a0\u00a0Sanctuary<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u2665 \u00a0\u00a0Free Ebook<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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