In this episode, I answer a question clients raise often in coaching and training when we explore the benefits of being mindfully present: is there ever a downside to focusing on the here and now?
Living in the moment can mean two very different things. One is mindful presence, a chosen and flexible way of paying attention. The other is present bias, a tendency to favour smaller, sooner rewards over larger, later ones.
The episode picks the two apart through six differences you can learn to notice from the inside, then shares practical ways to loosen the grip of present bias and make mindful presence easier. I also explore some common misconceptions about mindful focus, why choosing the immediate options isn’t always a ‘problem’, and explain the role mindful focus plays alongside the other processes in the ACT model – which supports our psychological flexibility.
Get in touch
I’d love to hear your questions, comments, examples and objections. Email podcast@worklifepsych.com or join the conversation over on WorkLifeSpark, which is free to join.
Thanks for listening!
Links and resources
- Learn at Lunch recording on mindful focus: free to access on our online personal development community, where this month’s theme is mindful focus. Join at worklifespark.com
- Psychological flexibility: the page on my website is a good starting point for the personal qualities and concepts mentioned in this episode. worklifepsych.com/psychologicalflexibility
- Five myths about mindfulness: https://www.worklifepsych.com/five-common-myths-about-mindfulness-debunked/
- Ep 126: First steps in mindfulness with Dr. Sarah Strohmaier – https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/126/
- Ep 085: Does mindfulness work? https://www.worklifepsych.com/podcast/ep-085-does-mindfulness-work-with-sarah-strohmaier/