Jeanne Stevens shares three questions to help you live in the present. Plus, an invitation to write a thank you note to your body.
3 Questions to Help You Live in the Present:
1. What am I sensing in my body?
2. What am I feeling in my heart?
3. What am I thinking in my mind?
“I realized I was missing out on the present moment, which in reality is the place where God always is.”
Where Are You: Follow the Breadcrumbs
Are you rehashing the past or rehearsing the future? Before you “get present,” try to locate where your heart and mind are right now. Use these breadcrumbs to see if you’re living in the past or obsessing about the future.
When you're rehashing the past:
Blame – Are you blaming someone or something for your current situation?
Shame – Self-Hatred At My Expense. Are you hiding from God, yourself, or others because you feel shame for something you did, said, or thought?
Unprocessed Grief – Have you made time to process the things or people you’ve lost? Do you make space to discuss sadness or disappointment with a trusted friend?
Bitterness – Are you holding onto a grudge? Are you recycling unforgiveness for someone else?
Guilt – Are you recycling unforgiveness for yourself?
When you're rehearsing the future:
Worry – Living in a “not yet” that is worse than the “now,” a fictional reality.
Denial – A defense mechanism to avoid pain or transformation.
Obligation – Answering all the “shoulds.”
Control – Trying to control a certain outcome when God hasn’t given you that control.
What's Here Now: Questions to Get Present
What am I sensing in my body?
– How does my body feel?
– Try a body scan from the Revelation Wellness Podcast.
– Do I feel tension, pain, soreness, or stiffness? Do I feel strong, light, and flexible?
– What is my facial expression?
What am I feeling in my heart?
– Do I notice any of the breadcrumbs of the past or future taking up heart space?
– What am I grateful for right now?
– What is happening right now that gives me joy? Or, am I experiencing something that makes me feel tired or stressed?
Do the thoughts and desires of your heart need a deep clean? Read this blog to learn how God can transform your heart through His love and mercy.
What am I thinking in my mind?
– Do I notice any of the breadcrumbs of the past or future taking up my mental space?
– What do I think about what I’m doing right now?
– Can I describe what I am doing and why it matters?
Watch this teaching from Alisa about how to live well by thinking well.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
Write a Thank You Note to Your Body
As Jeanne and Alisa discuss during the podcast interview, your body always lives in the present. Though your mind and your heart can rehash the past and rehearse the future, your body is always right where you are.
As an embodied creature, you can only be in one place at one time. Praise God! This human limitation reminds us we are not God.
But, oh, we are so fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139)! Have you ever taken time to thank your body for the life you live in it?
We invite you to write a thank you note to your body and the God who made it! Listen to Jeanne’s thank you note to her body on the Revelation Wellness Podcast interview from 22:14- 25:39.
Jeanne is a joy-filled and wise wife, mother, author, and church planter. Her and her husband lead Soul City Church in Chicago, IL. You can connect with Jeanne on Instagram at @jeannestevens and grab a copy of her hope-filled and encouraging new book, What’s Here Now?
Resources to help you live your best day:
