Be where your feet are

Don’t get me wrong. It’s important to have a vision that you’re working towards. Having goals is incredibly inspiring and self-motivating. And, in life, we are almost always working towards something greater. But, all we truly have is the now. All we have in actuality is this very moment. So, we must learn to enjoy it for what it is and take in every single sensation we’re experiencing: the good, the bad, the beautiful, the challenging, the heartbreaking - all of it.

For the past few years, manifestation is something I have been consistently and intentionally practicing with sheer force and determination. I have been visualizing my highest self and doing my best to act as if that version of me is who I am today. And, over the past couple of months, I began to grow tired of constantly thinking about this future life of mine. 

Knowing what you want to achieve or having a dream you're chasing after is empowering and enlightening in so many ways. But, it’s when you let it completely take over you that you start to suffer. You begin to feel stuck and start asking yourself questions like: 

When’s it going to happen for me? 

Why aren’t I there yet? 

What am I doing wrong? 

Is there something wrong with me? 

How did it work for them and not me? 

Why do I feel so alone in this process?

And, the questions will go on and on, if you let them.

If you’re into manifestation like me, you’ve probably found yourself hyper fixated on your vision at some point or another. So fixated that you may even find yourself experiencing tunnel vision - where you can only see the life you’re working towards way out in the distance, but aren’t able to bring your awareness to what’s right here in your peripheral view. This is when manifesting can become harmful - when all you’re focused on is that dream life in the distance and you start to lose sight of everything that’s right in front of you. 

I like to think of it like this. Imagine you’re on a hike and way out on the horizon, you can see the peak of the mountain top where you know the main viewpoint is going to be. You still have a long way to go, but you can see it and it looks breathtaking. If all you do is keep your eyes on the peak the entire time you’re moving and constantly complain at every bend about how you haven’t reached it yet, you’re never going to truly enjoy the hike. But, if you pause from time to time to look around and take in the many different views along the way, you’ll start to realize that where you are is pretty darn beautiful too. 

This is synonymous to life. Think back to any time you’ve wanted so desperately to reach the peak - to achieve something such as making a certain amount of money, getting into a committed relationship, moving to or traveling somewhere new, and so on. You’ve probably noticed that once you’ve reached that peak, a new mountain appears out in the distance. The hike doesn’t end. There will always be more opportunities or experiences for you to embark on. And, if you’re only focused on the mountain peaks, that’s all you’re going to see. But, if you can start to shift your awareness to the trail itself - the setbacks, the blisters, the snack breaks, the people you meet along the way, and those surprisingly stunning views you didn’t even plan on seeing - you might start to realize that the journey was actually what you were supposed to focus on all along.

Anxiety, depression, and so many mental health issues can be attributed to our inability or discomfort with living in the present moment. We focus so much of our energy on the already determined past or potential future that our mind begins to not know the difference between past, future, or present. 

Be present. This is what it means to be where your feet are. Learn to enjoy the little moments every day. Find gratitude for what you have now. Practice truly seeing everything that exists in your current reality and finding appreciation for all of it (or as much of it as you can). Yes, plan for your future. But, also, live for this moment. Because as quickly as it appears, it’s gone again. 

Presence is where you can find ultimate peace. I’m not saying it's easy or it will happen overnight, but the more present you allow yourself to be, the more peace and calm you will find. 

A great way to practice presence is to take part in healthy activities that you get lost in and make you forget what time is. Another name for this is called a flow state. For me this looks like writing, meditating, surfing, practicing yoga, being outside and in nature, and so much more. This could also include spending time with people who inspire you or trying new things often. There are so many activities that may put you into a state of flow, and the idea is to do them as often as possible. 

Think about what activities you do that put you into a state of flow and bring you fully into the present moment. Now, think of activities that take you out of the present moment - that make you think about the past or the future too much. Maybe this is doom scrolling on social media or spending time with people that do not inspire you or any number of things. Think about it. When do you truly feel present and when don’t you? Be aware of both and work towards finding more presence in your daily life. 

My motto for this month and the month ahead is to be where my feet are. This quote takes me back to one of my core memories in college. I was doing service work during spring break with an organization at my school, and someone from the group shared this quote with everyone after a long, amazing day of labor-filled service work. After she shared it, the saying stuck with me ever since… Be where your feet are. It’s so simple, yet so challenging to put into practice.

So, if you take away anything from this article, it’s that being present is the best thing you can do for yourself today. Notice the little things around you. Find gratitude for what you have now. Create peace in this moment. And, be where your feet are because that’s the only place you truly can be.

If you liked this article, please share it with someone who may need to hear this today. And, if you’re interested in a free life coaching discovery call, you can book one with me here. Wishing you all the love and light that you deserve. Have a lovely day.