Are You Showing Up, or Are You Truly Present?
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Being There Isn’t the Same as Being Present
The other day, I had one of those wake-up-call moments—courtesy of my dog. After an hours-long Call of Duty marathon with my friends, I looked down and noticed a pile of dog toys at my feet. Each one had been brought to me while I was deep in the game, and I hadn’t even noticed. When I finally stood up and walked into another room, my dog greeted me like I’d been gone for weeks. But here’s the thing: I was there—I just wasn’t present.
How often do we confuse showing up with actually being present? How many of us go to work, show up at the gym, spend time with loved ones, or even pursue our goals without giving our full attention, focus, or energy?
The Illusion of Presence
There’s a difference between physically being somewhere and mentally being engaged. I meet people all the time who tell me they’re showing up at work, hitting the gym, or spending time with family, yet they still feel stuck. Why? Because showing up is only step one. Being present means fully engaging with the task, person, or moment in front of you.
- At Work: Are you just clocking in and clocking out, or are you focused on adding value and advancing your goals?
- At Home: Are you simply sitting in the same room as your loved ones, or are you actively connecting with them?
- At the Gym: Are you just going through the motions, or are you pushing yourself to grow stronger?
Presence requires intentionality. It’s about quality, not just quantity.
The Cost of Distraction
We live in a world full of distractions. Notifications, endless social media scrolling, and the constant pull of multitasking make it harder than ever to truly focus. But here’s the truth: You can’t give your best effort to something if you’re only halfway invested.
The human brain isn’t built for multitasking. Switching between tasks isn’t efficiency—it’s a drain on your energy and productivity. When you try to juggle too much at once, you end up half-committed to everything and fully committed to nothing.
The Fix: Be Where Your Feet Are
One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned is this: Be where your feet are. It sounds simple, but it’s a game-changer:
- When you’re at work, focus on work.
- When you’re with loved ones, focus on them.
- When you’re resting, truly rest—don’t let guilt or worry steal that moment from you.
Presence isn’t about perfection; it’s about intention. It’s about showing up with a reason. Have a motive for everything you do: when you’re working, when you’re playing, and when you’re resting.
Focus on One Thing at a Time
When I’m working on a book, I’m writing. When I’m spending time with my dog, I’m spending time with my dog. Each task or moment gets its own space, energy, and focus.
Ask yourself:
- Am I fully here, or am I somewhere else mentally?
- What’s the motive behind what I’m doing right now?
- Am I giving my best effort to this moment?
When you approach life with focus, intentionality, and a clear motive, you’ll not only get better results—you’ll build deeper connections, reduce stress, and actually enjoy the journey.
Don’t Just Show Up—Be Present
At the end of the day, life isn’t measured by how many places you were physically present—it’s measured by how deeply you were engaged in the moments that mattered.
Be where your feet are. Put the phone down. Eliminate the noise. Give your attention to the things, people, and tasks that deserve it.
Because being present isn’t just about showing up—it’s about showing up with purpose.
Have a great day, and remember: Be where your feet are.
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