I was at the airport security check. I removed various digital devices from my bag to pass through the scanner. It was almost routine so I wasn’t thinking much about the process. Because I had packed a few extra items in the carry-on bag, it was a procedure that was different from what I normally did. Also because I was not thinking about it, I did not pay as much attention to what I was doing – distracted by the bustle of movement all around.
It was only later that I realised I was missing my Bose QC45 headset. I first thought that I had forgotten it at home, but the more I thought, I realised I had probably removed it at the security check to access my laptop and iPad, and had not put it back in. The only way to be sure was to go back home and check. (I was travelling with family so there wasn’t anyone at home to ask.)
A couple days later, when I returned home and didn’t find the headset, I knew I had forgotten it at the airport security check. I called Mumbai airport’s Lost and Found, and was relieved to find that it was indeed there. I picked it up the next day.
I then spent some time thinking about my mistake at the airport. I came to the conclusion that I was not “present” when I was going through the motions of removing the items from my bag and putting them back. My mind was elsewhere and I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing, and hence I erred.
A similar mistake had happened a couple of months ago. At the end of a long day’s conference, I got up from my chair and started working – very tired and sleepy. A friend sitting next to me called out to me saying I had forgotten my BB (shoulder bag) on the chair. Again, I was not “present” when doing an action.
As I thought more, I realised that I needed to be more present in the moment when I am doing things or with people. I cannot let the mind wander at these times. It means tuning out my thoughts and being focused on the actions I am doing or the conversation I am engaged in. Mistakes in words or actions can happen when one is physically present but mentally absent.
As I investigated more on this topic, I came across a phrase to describe it. “Present-Moment Awareness.” Eric Langshur and Nate Klemp write: “Presence involves a simple yet incredible shift—from the ordinary state of mind wandering to bringing our attention to the experience of what is happening right now. You can make this shift anytime, anywhere. Why develop this habit? Spiritual leaders and philosophers have attempted to answer this question for thousands of years. And yet Ferris Bueller…might just have the best answer: “Life moves pretty fast,” he warned. “If you don’t stop and look around for a while, you might miss it.” He’s right. Life without presence moves pretty fast. When we wake up, go to work, and do the other things we need to do, we often operate on autopilot; the days fly by, as do the weeks, months, and years. In fact, scientists have confirmed that this experience of time “flying by” increases with age. With each passing year, the novelty of life diminishes and our perception of time accelerates. This has led the mindfulness teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn to argue that if you really want to live a longer life, presence—not drugs, healthy eating, or any other strategy—is the best solution. You may not actually live longer in terms of calendar time, but your experience of life and your perception of time will expand. The days, months, and years can be richer, more meaningful, and more fully lived.”
From The Human Condition: “Present-moment awareness is a practice in which someone focuses attentively on what is occurring in this moment, including a host of sensations like actions, feelings, and experiences. The Zen teacher Suzuki Roshi said, “When you eat, you should eat. When you sleep, you should sleep.” In this example, rather than rushing through a meal to get to the next activity, attention to the present moment means savoring the food and company. This type of attention can be practiced in any situation—from work to play. In a work setting, someone might focus entirely on the message they are conveying in the email they’re composing instead of pre-emptively thinking about other items on their to-do list.”
Think of being in the Zone and Presence as two complementary ideas; both are needed. But there is a time and place for each of them.
