The Power of Now is both a book and an elusive practice because it’s really hard not to get distracted by everything in our lives. Our phones are probably the worst culprit for bringing us out of the Now, but we’re all addicted to them. One way that I’ve found to get back to the present moment is with the conscious act of creative noticing.
The first step is to notice something in your surroundings or in your interior landscape (e.g. Am I hungry? Is this bra too tight? What’s that horrid smell?).
Then notice something extra or add something extra to bring you further into the experience of noticing and being present. You can make up stories or captions or embellish on something strange. For example, I noticed this little girl’s barrette clipped to the branches of a tree in the park. It was most likely positioned as such so whoever lost it could find it again, but I decided that it must be the tree’s birthday because she was all dressed up for her party. I wished the tree happy birthday in my mind and took another moment to be there.
I also call this technique, vibrant noticing, because it activates the imagination and helps you pay closer attention to your surroundings, making them more vibrant.
