The Power of Presence, Radical Resetting, and 'About Time'

I have been practicing this intentionally for over a year now.

In truth, this ability has always been built into my nature. Ever since I was a child, I had a tendency to reset quickly, let things go, and move on. I didn't wallow. I knew early on that no one was coming to save me. If I wanted to be saved, I had to save myself.

I can’t take credit for inventing the concept of presence, of course. Mindful practices have spoken about it for centuries. But sometimes it takes a while (and the right perspective) for the lesson to truly click.

For me, that feeling found its words while watching the movie About Time.

I cannot make my point without revealing a bit of the plot. So, either pause reading right now and go watch it, or read on and go watch it anyway.

The Secret to Time Travel

The premise of the movie centres on a young man who learns about a secret gift shared by the men in his family: the ability to travel back in time.

At first, he uses his gift for fun. Then, he tries to use it to “fix” life's complications. Naturally, as every good story teaches us, messing with time carries consequences. He learns that certain events must be allowed to unfold without interference or magic.

Eventually, he shifts how he uses his power. He begins to revisit ordinary days.

He notices how many special moments happen around him every single day. Moments he originally rushed past or dismissed in the chaotic hurry of life. On his second trip through a standard day, he takes the time to cherish the subtle details: a cheerful greeting from a stranger, an opportunity to show kindness to a struggling colleague, or a quiet moment of connection.

Finally, he reaches the ultimate realisation. The real gift is not travelling back in time at all. The real gift is living every single day as if it is already the best version of that day.

It is about being present, fully participating, and living with intentional gratitude for every passing minute.

Living the Day You Want

Ever since watching that movie, I have intentionally focused on the present moment. Every single moment. It became less about just getting through the bad things quickly, and more about actually staying present for the good.

Some days I got it completely right. Other days, not so much. But once I cleared away the background noise and allowed my mind to settle, the practice did too.

I live the day I want to live.

I cannot control everything, and my Three Rules remind me that I do not have to. (You can read about them here.) I simply refuse to dump energy into people or activities that do not add value to my life. Instead, I feed my mind, my body, and my soul every single day.

I box for my body, but more importantly, to clear and strengthen my mind.

I write, draw, and create to give form to my dreams.

I practice kindness to others whenever the opportunity arises.

I share what I can, telling my stories to inspire, encourage, or simply entertain. I know someone out there needs to hear them.

By the time I lay my head down at night, I know I lived the exact day I wanted to live. I stayed right where my feet were. I took in every detail I could and imprinted it into my memory.

Finding Your Anchor

This simple habit of staying present has brought me immense peace and joy.

With everything happening in the world today (the endless noise, the daily pressures of work, and the weight of taking care of our families) we all need something that grounds us. We need a daily anchor that makes sense of the chaos.

Stop rushing through the moment you are currently in just to get to the next item on your to-do list. Take a breath. Look around.

Be where your feet are.