I often wonder—what is the presence of mind? Is it the ability to react quickly in a crisis? Or is it the stillness to remain unfazed when the world tries to shake you? I sometimes believe it's both. I sometimes believe neither.
They say the presence of mind is being “aware in the moment.” However, aren't we always in the present? We can't be anywhere else, after all. Yet, I am aware that I am not always present. Sure, my body is here, but my thoughts? They’re everywhere else. Future, fantasy, and anxiety. Therefore, perhaps being in the present moment is a component of having presence of mind. Fully.
But then, what about those quick reflexes? Like when I say the right thing without really considering it or catch a glass before it falls. Is that presence of mind, or just instinct? Is there a way to have presence of mind without thinking, or does it require conscious awareness?
And here's the twist: I've experienced genuine presence, which felt like silence and clarity at the same time. A quiet strength in a sense. However, I have also frozen when I needed to act and later wondered, "Why didn't I say something?" Why didn’t I move?
So maybe presence of mind isn’t a fixed trait, but a state. A balancing act between motion and stillness. Between thinking and trusting. Sometimes it's about giving up control, not always. It’s when your mind shows up fully—not ahead of you, not behind you—but exactly where your life is happening.
Sometimes I can't find it when I want to. But I know when it finds me, even for a moment. And I'm realizing that having presence of mind doesn't mean being perfect. It's about being fully present for whatever comes your way.
Note: The image used in this blog is AI-generated.