LifeThought: Wherever you are, be all there!

Wherever you are, be all there! — Jim Elliot

Oh, if we could learn to do this more often in our own lives, we would find a peace we hadn’t expected!

We live in a culture of constant multitasking, thinking about what’s next instead of is, and a myriad of other distractions.

I have been just as guilty of not being “all there” as anyone else, but I am trying to change my life and am learning to live in the moment and be intentionally “all there” wherever I am.

I would like to challenge you to catch yourself throughout you days and remind yourself of this quote and its message. Whatever it is you are doing, wherever you are, be all there. Be as close as you can be to 100% present at the moment, focused on what it is you are supposed to be doing right then, and making it your highest priority. You will find this is harder to do than you think, but the benefits will pay huge rewards in your personal and professional relationships.

If you are out for a meal, especially if it is a date, turn your cell phone off–not just on vibrate, off! You went out to have a meal with that person for a reason–to have a specific discussion or to build a relationship. You cannot do this if you are distracted by a ringing, beeping, or vibrating phone. Whatever the call or beep is, it can probably wait to be addressed until the meal is over. Also, don’t check your messages, texts, etc. when you go to use the restroom, because you will be thinking about those things when you return to the table and you will no longer be “all there.”

Likewise, if you are driving your car or in another situation in which you cannot give a call, text, or email 100% of your attention,  just don’t answer the call or check the text. Wait until you have the time give it your full attention. Many people are injured or killed in car accidents every day because they took a call or checked a message that could have waited 20 minutes.

If you are at home and your spouse or child starts talking to you, be all there and give the person and the conversation 100% of your attention. If you are doing something that is very important, tell the person to please wait until you finish, then give it 100%. How many times have you tried to talk to someone, your spouse, a parent, or child, and felt like you didn’t really matter because that person was only paying partial attention to what you were saying. Don’t be that person! Be all there!

Learn how to give priority to whatever it is you are doing, or whomever you are spending time with, right now. Make that thing or that person the most important thing in your life right now. Right now is, in fact, all the time you have. So, whatever it is you are doing, or wherever you are, be all there!

~You might also enjoy hearing me talk about this on the “Life Is A Marathon” podcast: The Art of Being Present


If you enjoyed this, or any of my other posts, I’d be honored if you’d share it with your family, friends and followers!

Do you agree or disagree with what I’ve written? I’d love to hear your comments!

6 thoughts on “LifeThought: Wherever you are, be all there!

  1. Arwa

    I always remind myself to live the moment, sometimes I did focus on what I do right now but I can manage to maintain in the same range of being in the moment all the time, at least I’m aware of this issue to like before.
    Thank you for your blog Bruce and have a nice day
    Arwa,

  2. Kent Julian

    The #1 thing that has helped me with this:

    * When you work, work 110%. When you’re off and with your family, be 110% off and with your family. This one principle is huge!

  3. Columba Lisa Smith

    Agree! I get very distracted from the moment, trying to handle everything life throws my way. I try to give my kids my full attention, and sometimes I am REALLY glad I did! They have important life issues to discuss as teenagers. I don’t want to miss that. Thanks for a great reminder!

  4. Shawn Andrews

    In my chiropractic office we call it present time consciousness. It is hard to not focus on the reception area of patients waiting, or the grumpy patient that just chewed me out, but I owe it my patients to be 100% present for their appointment. Thanks for the great article!

Comments are closed.