The Emotional Intelligence of Being ‘Here Now’

Have you noticed all the hype about back to school? I was at an office supply store yesterday and kids with their parents were everywhere frantically buying up school supplies. It was a little strange. August doesn’t seem like ‘back-to-school’ month! Well if you watch TV ads you might think it started in July. Why is it that marketers are starting earlier and earlier to advertise their products? Some might say it’s good planning. I think it’s another one of our societal ills. We just can’t seem to be in the moment and enjoy what’s here now.

We seem to have a need to be “there then” and not “here now.” What’s wrong with this? What’s wrong is the danger of missing what is contained in the here and now. In the here and now are how we think and feel about the people that we’re with and the situations we’re in. Also in the here and now are the emotions of the people we’re with. When we are not attending to the present, we are in danger of missing this information. Contained within this information are opportunities to deepen and strengthen relationships – with ourselves and with others. These opportunities are missed when we do not strive to be present in every situation and that is not emotionally intelligent.

Where is your focus? Are you primarily here now or there then? What is hard about being present and in the moment versus being future oriented and do you experience any ill effects of either one? Please comment below.