“Have you ever been sitting in a meeting at work when your phone dings an Instagram update and you struggle to keep your mind on what the boss is saying? Perhaps you intend to talk to your kids or your spouse about their day, but you can’t resist catching up on the latest news from your five hundred Facebook friends at the same time? Maybe you’re the culprit who tweets about the lunch you are supposed to eat to your almost-friends on Twitter rather than being present at the table with the friend who invited you.
“In her book, The Happiness Track: How to Apply the Science of Happiness to Accelerate Your Success, Dr. Emma Seppala presents research to benefit any of us in the technological age as we struggle to keep up with all of our digital distractions.
Dr. Seppala states, “That ‘multitasking,’ instead of helping us accomplish more things faster, actually keeps us from doing anything well. Paradoxically, slowing down and focusing on what is happening in front of you right now—being present instead of always having your mind on the next task to be accomplished—will make you more successful.
“Psychologists Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert of Harvard University did a study of 5,000 people, stating that adults spend only about fifty percent of their time in the present moment. In other words, they are mentally checked out half the time.
“ only did they measure when people’s minds were wandering, but the scientists also collected information on happiness levels. They found that when we are in the present moment, we are also our happiest, no matter what we are doing. The reason why is because we can fully experience the things going on around us. Instead of getting caught up in the race to accomplish more things faster, we slow down and are actually with the people we are with, immersed in the ideas being discussed, and fully engaged in our projects.” From Tech-Pecked or Tuned In.
In his book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, which we are studying together at Sierra Pines Church, John Mark Comer writes, “Do you ever catch yourself with the sneaking suspicion that you’ll wake up on your deathbed with the nagging sense that somehow, in all the hurry and busyness and frenetic activity, you missed the most important things?”
I know that I missed being in the moment so many times (And that was before the Internet brought a deluge of distractions right into my back pocket!) when my kids were growing up because “There was just so much to do!” But NONE of it was as important as being in the present with my kids…and I can’t get any of that time back. (And yes, I am crying now.)
Life has slowed down with Covid, but I don’t want to rush back into hurried moments as soon as we are told it’s okay to jump back into the rat race. I’m tired of being the rat—endlessly running in that little circle thingy. At least the rat enjoys it. I end up feeling trapped in a cage and going nowhere. I want to be more engaged, more present in my presence. I don’t want to be just about half smart or half present. I am practicing slowing down, spending quiet time in God’s presence, and enjoying the moment I am in now, so I can keep this calm thing workin’ for me...forever.
Anyone want to join me?