Why the Best Holiday Present Is Your Presence
Have you ever received an invitation to a celebration that includes the note, “Your presence is the best present?” You might think this phrase is a kind of corny way to let people know you’re hosting a gift-free gathering. But at Live Bright Now, we think replacing “presents” with “presence” is a brilliant approach to getting through the sanity-testing, budget-breaking, stress-inducing holiday season. Here’s why we hope you’ll think about presence, not presents, in the weeks ahead—plus three easy ways to keep your holiday season bright.
Let’s start with why presence is the best gift you can give—to others and, of course, to yourself.
Being present is a shortcut to experiencing awe
Between work and everything else, we’re already scheduled to the max. One powerful and proven antidote to holiday hecticness is simply to slow down—even for 60 seconds—and dial-up your attention to what’s around you. Neuroscience finds that when we let our distracted brains quietly focus—even for a few moments—we experience an expansion of time. It actually s-l-o-w-s down, and we feel grounded and calm. That’s just the beginning. Tuning in to the tiny, precious moments (especially during the amped-up holidays or even a crazy day at work) is good for your health and your peace of mind.
Why? The emotion you feel in those small but significant moments is awe. Experiencing awe decreases feelings of anxiety and self-centeredness and boosts your patience, humility, and generosity. Now that’s a delicious recipe for the holiday season!
Best of all, you don’t need to climb a mountain peak or jump out of an airplane to tap into awe. Research shows that being truly present as you watch a hummingbird sip nectar from a flower or notice a child’s joy at seeing sparkly holiday lights inspires exactly as much awe as any heart-pounding adventure.
(One big difference? Unlike pricey skydives and mountain expeditions, tuning in to the magic of your surroundings is 100% free. How awesome is that?)
Your holiday awe starts now!
Here are three simple ways to infuse your holidays with presence and awe.
Slow down. Throughout the day, stop frequently in the middle of whatever you’re doing (racing through your emails, sitting in traffic, waiting in line at the grocery store). Notice a small detail … and pause right there. Now allow yourself to deeply experience that single moment. That’s all it takes—you did it! Live Bright Now pro tip: We’re not the only ones who get the importance of noticing. Check out Today I Noticed, a delightful daily adventure in paying attention.
Describe a personal experience of childlike wonder. It’s revitalizing to tap into your own memories of childlike wonder. Research shows that when you describe an awe-inspiring moment to a friend, you re-experience some of those feelings yourself—and mirror neurons help your friend feel it, too. Live Bright Now pro tip: Describe a favorite childhood moment from the holidays to a family member over breakfast or a colleague during lunch. Invite them to share a memory, too.
Get outside for an “awe walk” (our personal favorite!). Being fully present in the great outdoors is like stepping through a portal into another dimension, where everything is just a little bit brighter. So leave your phone behind, get outside, and see what catches your attention. Pause there for 15 seconds … and then repeat. Live Bright Now pro tip: Once you notice how strong, energized, and alive you feel when you’re outside, you can carry those feelings with you at work, at home, or wherever you might be.
As one more gift from our team at Live Bright Now, we’ll leave you with some wise words from poet William B. Yeats:
“The world is full with magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”
Here’s to the magic of presence during the holidays!
Want to create a bright culture for your company? I’d love to help.