How to Live Life in the Present Instead of Chasing Performance
What do you want your life to be about? I asked myself this question the other day as dawn ascended in shades of lilac over the tree line. I want to learn to live life in the present, embrace God’s gifts, and enjoy my kids.
Meanwhile, I’m still learning, and the process is anything but perfect.
As I watched the sunrise, I reflected on the previous day, and I saw some things I didn’t like: my tendency to hurry through certain chores, impatience with my family, and an undercurrent of stress flowing beneath all my moments.
There were no epic disasters.
However, there was too much striving and not enough joy. My day was more about performance than presence.
I hurried through my early morning prayer time because I was eager to dive into household tasks before the pitter-patter of little feet stirred. Performance.
I rushed through laundry, scrubbing floors, wiping down windows, and doing outdoor chores because I was eager to get through my list before the kids arrived home from school. Performance.
Many of my moments were all about getting something done so I could get onto the next moment, and that’s no way to live.
It’s not the life I’m trying to live, but it’s the life I seem to chase with my white knuckles holding onto control of my days. I’m stressed, and I need to get off the freight train of productivity.
Imagining the Life You Want to Live
As a new day dawned, I read the following words: “Slow down. Take a deep breath. What’s the hurry? Why wear yourself out? Just what are you after anyway? But you say, ‘I can’t help it’” (Jeremiah 2:25 MSG).
“Slow down. Take a deep breath. What’s the hurry? Why wear yourself out? Just what are you after anyway? But you say, ‘I can’t help it’” (Jeremiah 2:25 MSG). #slow #presence #Jesus Click To TweetI knew they were words for me.
Originally written to the people of Judah, these words warned God’s people not to chase what would only bring them misery. I couldn’t help but think of my unbridled pursuit of performance and the stressful misery produced by my hurried lifestyle.
The words of my varsity volleyball coach echoed in my mind: “Imagine yourself succeeding, and you will prepare yourself for success.”
He taught us to visualize ourselves acing our serves, digging the hardest hit balls, and hustling on the court.
The premise was simple: Prepare your mind to win, and your body will follow.
Thinking of this insight, I imagined the day ahead of me. One by one, I imagined the tasks, and then I imagined pursuing presence instead of chasing performance.
How It All Played Out
As the day unfolded, I pushed back against the strong desire to hurry and perform. I felt the anxiety in my chest, and I named it. However, I did not submit to its summons to hurry and produce more.
I resisted the usual annoyance that often comes with completing the tasks I don’t particularly care for: putting away laundry, waiting for the buckets of water to fill so I could go outside and care for our animals, and checking the oven for the sixth time to see if the roast had cooked through yet.
Instead of grumbling through these tasks, I breathed through them.
I felt the warmth of clean laundry, the cold sting of the water as it filled the buckets, and the fiery heat of the oven as the rush of hot air dried my skin.
When the school bus returned at 3:35, I stopped everything to sit and listen to my children.
We talked about games at recess and pizza for lunch.
I was present.
Not performing.
How to Live Life in the Present
I have not arrived.
But I am becoming.
I am moving in the direction of the live I want to live, and every failure is an opportunity to try again.
What about you, friend?
Let’s get back to our first question: What do you want your life to be about?
Do you want it to be about accomplishing tasks? Being organized? Being put-together? Looking good?
Or do you want it to be about loving well and living in a wholly present kind of way?
Do you really want less stress?
You might have to sacrifice to get there. You might have to remake your schedule, let go of some commitments, release perfectionism, or lay down an obsession.
Pause to consider what one step you could take today to move in this direction.
When we live in the present, we are less stressed. We enjoy our lives with our senses. We’re more content.
Your Invitation to Live Life in the Present:
Imagine what it would look like to move slowly and be fully present throughout all the tasks you need to complete throughout the upcoming day. Imagine the places you will go and the people you will see. What will it look like to be fully engaged and filled with peace? What will it look like to pursue presence instead of chasing performance? Imagine it all.
Then, go live your life.
You won’t do it perfectly, and that’s okay.
You might just realize it’s worth trying again the next day—and the day after that.
A Free Devotional to Help You Live Life in the Present:
Do you want to learn how to live life in the present? The 7-Day Stress Detox is your one-week guide to overcoming the stress that has you in a stranglehold. Each morning for the next seven days, I’ll invite you to take a few minutes to read the daily reading. At the end of each reading, you will find a “Stress Detox Activity.” The activity will take less than five minutes, and it will help you exchange stress for peace and start your day. Today’s post is an excerpt from this powerful devotional.
Click here to get your free copy using promo code STRESS. You’ll notice the retail price for this guide is $7.00— one dollar for each day of your journey. Your financial contribution will help me pay the fees to keep my blog running, but I am also offering this online guide for free because I want it to bless you! 
Attention, all moms and daughters!
Lastly, in addition to writing to adults, I am also passionate about ministering to the next generation.
My 12-year-old daughter Bekah and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book together. We hope to help moms and daughters connect and grow in faith together. Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a shared journaling section.
Our vision is for girls ages 7-17 to enjoy it with their moms, grandmas, or older women they look up to. However, mothers and daughters of all ages are using this book to grow closer together! This book makes a wonderful gift for a mother or daughter you care about!
You can buy your paperback or eBook on Amazon right here. 
