When our thoughts start to stray, they can tend to go in one of two directions.
Sometimes we find ourselves dreaming of an upcoming vacation or looking forward to a get-together with friends . . .
. . . or, maybe we’re distracted by worries about approaching deadlines or unpaid bills.
Even though the former scenario seems preferable to the latter, both instances of mind-wandering could be detrimental to happiness.
Why? Dan Siegel, MD reveals his answer in the video below, and shares one way to refocus.
If you would like to find out about more ways that presence can transform people’s lives, and how it can even create new neural pathways in the brain and improve integration, check out our courses on mindfulness
What strategies have you shared with your clients to help them maintain focus? Please leave a comment below.
.Keeping in the present sound great. I used to do meditations 20 years ago but got out of the habit. Listening to Dr. Segal I am aware that I let my mind wander quite a lot. It seems that in my job that there is always something that breaks into the present for me to worry about. I can see where keeping in the present would be able to make a person happier. It sounds like I need to start doing meditation again. I like the comment below from the 80 year old and agree with her.
I have Dan Siegals book Mindsight it boggles my mind !! Am so grateful for people like him who gives hope to older persons. I am over 80 and I feel that mindfulness, being in the moment ( which is on and off) has given me more life at this stage of my life thanks for all the wonderful research Am curious about hearing more about presence and how it can create new neural pathways in our brain
mindfulness and presence = peace happiness if God is the center
The Gestalt exercise “I Am Aware” I was taught in therapy training is one I have found very useful both for clients and myself.
For example I’m driving along mind-wandering from past to future and back – “what a frustrating supervision session that just was”, “omg I’m stuck behind a Learner driver, I’m going to miss my train” etc etc. So I say to myself (sometimes!) I’m going to play “I Am Aware”.
So I am aware of my hands clenching on the hard steering-wheel…I am aware my breathing is shallow and my heartbeat fast… my shoulders are hunched, my jaw tight…I am aware there is an ambulance behind me ringing its bell…
The awareness reminds me to breathe, relax, think clearly, anticipate better and take smooth evasive action.
Really would have enjoyed the discussion of the difference between presence and mindfulness…
I am hoping that Dr. Siegel will address the difference(s) between presence and mindfulness in his webinar. He has been such a trail blazer in the application of Mindfulness and Neuropsychology.
I would also have enjoyed that very much. It seems like a critical distinction. I think I have tended to equate them.
On Dan Siegel’s Facebook page, May 22 2013:
“Presence is the bare awareness of the receptive spaciousness of our mind. Beneath the layers of adaptation to survive in the world, remains a powerful mind vision that enables us to be receptive to whatever is. It is this presence that mindfulness recreates. This is a re-creation because children early on have this receptivity, this playfulness of being. Recreation, in its deepest sense, is a re-creation of a playful state of presence.”
Thank you for finding and sharing this elegant description of the distinction.