Have you ever felt fully immersed in a moment? Where you feel calm, energized, and completely alive?
That is the feeling of being present. When you’re rooted in the here and now, even simple moments, like washing dishes or sharing a laugh, feel more meaningful. But in today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get swept away by thoughts of the past or worries about the future.
Qi Gong is a practice that has many important benefits, including helping you cultivate a greater sense of presentness in your life. In this blog, you’ll discover how Qi Gong can help you reconnect with the present moment and awaken to the beauty of your life as it’s unfolding, right now
When you’re present, you’re able to fully enjoy your experiences in life. Whether you’re washing the dishes or having a good conversation with loved ones, you just feel better and more alive when you’re in the here and now.
Unfortunately, the human mind doesn’t always prioritize your own sense of joy and fulfillment. Through millions of years of evolution, your mind has become hard-wired to pay attention to things that it thinks may impact your survival.
In the twenty-first century, there are fewer immediate threats to your survival than there were thousands of years ago, but your mind still is programmed to focus on protecting yourself. Often, this means your mind wants to drift off to the future or reflect on the past.
While there can certainly be value in thinking about the past or future, many people spend far too much of their energy focused on those two places. After a while, it becomes a habit to constantly be thinking and not truly be experiencing the present moment.
Not only does the human mind have a tendency to think about the past and future, but it also has a tendency to pay attention to negative aspects of the past or future. Not surprisingly, this can often lead to unpleasant feelings. For example, thoughts about the future can often create stress and anxiety in the present moment, while thoughts about the past can sometimes lead to regret, frustration, or anger.
Fortunately, the practice of Qi Gong offers some insights and practices that can help you let go of restless thinking and reorient your mind and energy in the present moment.
One of the first things you can do to become present is simply to become aware of where your mind is focused.
By making a habit of paying attention to your thoughts, you’re able to have greater power in deciding where you direct your mind. This doesn’t mean that you’ll never drift off to the past or future. However, by being aware of your thoughts, you can make an intentional decision to let go of those thoughts and return to the present moment.
This is the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness is taught in many different traditions, including in Qi Gong.
At first, it may feel difficult to let go of constant thinking and return to the present moment, but over time, it becomes easier. Like anything, the more you practice this process of letting go of your thoughts and returning to the present moment, the easier it is.
Not only does presentness affect your mind, it also affects your entire energy system.
There is a saying in Qi Gong, “Qi flows where your mind goes.” In other words, simply by directing your attention somewhere, you give it more energy and strength. This is why focusing on a negative experience can make you angry or sad, and focusing on a happy experience can help you feel joyful.
When you learn how to focus on the here and now, your felt experience of the present moment becomes richer and more vibrant. This makes mindfulness a powerful practice for experiencing more energy and joy throughout your daily activities.
While mindfulness all on its own is effective, in many cases, it can be even more powerful when you integrate mindfulness with meditative movement practices.
Qi Gong movement practices integrate the principles of mindfulness with meditative movement exercises. By engaging in slow and intentional movements, it helps your mind orient more strongly to the energies alive within you in the present moment.
If you’re like many people, it might be difficult to calm your mind without directing it to something specific in the present moment. In Qi Gong, you’re able to focus on the subtleties of energy that are moving within you. Instead
One important thing about the present moment is that it’s something that you experience through feeling rather than thinking. You think about the past or future, but you cannot experience the present moment just by thinking about it. Instead, you must learn how to let go of your thoughts and focus your awareness of what is happening within you.
For this reason, Qi Gong is the perfect practice for helping you cultivate greater presentness. It helps you to tap into your internal energy system in a deep and meaningful way. In doing so, not only are you able to experience the present moment with greater fulness, but you’re also able to let go of any stress, anxiety, or other feelings that may be connected to your thoughts.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Qi Gong can help you cultivate greater presentness and improve various other aspects of your well-being, be sure to check out our Thirty-Day Qi Gong Challenge.
If you're ready to feel more centered, calm, and connected, the 30-Day Qi Gong Challenge is a powerful next step.
Each day, you’ll be guided through a 7-minute Qi Gong routine designed to help you release tension, energize your body, and gently return your awareness to the present moment.
No pressure. No overwhelm. Just a simple daily rhythm to help you feel better physically, emotionally, and energetically.
Start today and reconnect with the present, one breath at a time.
