Im on the phone with my son, whos telling me a story. But Im also checking my email. So what do you think? he asks. My mind goes blank. I have no idea what he just told me. Im sorry, honey, could you go over the last part? I get up and move to the sofa, determined to pay attention and to be therereally be therefor my boy.

I get in the car and turn on the radio. A piece of music comes on that rubs me the wrong way. As I reach over to change station I think, just for kicks, why not be there with this music for a while. Explore it. Find out why you dont like it. Maybe youll learn something.

Im on my way to a party. I dont want to go. I dont know many people there, and I keep thinking about what it will be like. I might feel uncomfortable, or not know what to say. Then I think, why not just show up? Why not just be there, without all this thought baggage, and see what happens? You can always leave. I go, I stay and I have a great time.

Why is it so hard simply to be there? To sit with what is and not have to do anything or change anything or control anything? Ive realized that its a huge challenge, not just for me, but for most people as well.

Being isnt something we do well in our culture. Doing is our thing. We talk a lot about being; but, when you get right down to it, we seem to avoid actually doing it. So Ive taken it upon myself to learn this art and to practice it often.

When my mom makes a comment that pushes every button in my body-mind, I ask myself, Ok, what is it like to be with this? What does it feel like? What does it look like? I might say, Im interested in this. And pretty soon I dont feel angry, or suffocated, or hurt anymore. Im an observer now, not a participant. I can still have a conversation, but I respond from a different point of view. Theres no struggle inside me, no need for one. No need to judge or to make a decision about what to do.

This leaves me feeling peaceful; and Im learning that Ive created and participated in a degree of struggle that isnt necessary. Not only that, it doesnt interest me anymore. Im attracted to the spaciousness I feel when I let go of the need to react to everythingto hook into it. I wont die if I live for a while in the same space as my discomfort. In fact, by being present with it, I come away feeling as if Ive really lived.

Its the same with joy, which can be just as hard to be with. I had dinner with a friend the other night; and afterward, I found myself taking stock of the evening like an accountant looking for missing figures. Then I thought, what are you doing? You had fun. Case closed!

Whats this about? When Im sad I want to be happy. When Im happy, Im looking for sadness. In the meantime, Im never really anywhere because Im never really where I am. Too confusing

So now Im playing a lot with this idea of being present with myself in the momentof really being where I am. And Im finding that Im happier, more relaxed and more grateful for everything I have, which, of course is the way to get the things I want. It isnt easy, but its very interesting.

It takes a great deal of effort. But not the pushing kind. The trick is to let go and relax and just observe whats there; then to observe how I feel about what I find, and so forth. Its an adventure deep into my life. As with any adventure, its easy to resist the first steps, but the rewards are huge. I have much less stress in my life now, Im happier, Im more available for other people, Im better at everything I set out to do. As you can see, this is a win-win situation. It really is worth cultivating the art of being there.

Here are a few pointers that will help you be there:

Breathe.

Its been said that your consciousness travels on your breath. In yoga, and martial arts, the breath is the most important tool for focusing and gathering power. Breathing fully and deeply brings you back to the here and now, anchoring your consciousness fully in your body. Focus on your breath. Follow it with your awareness, feeling the air move in and out. Youll notice almost immediately that you feel more present.

Be your experience.

If you feel emotions mounting or discomfort rearing its ugly head, do what you were taught to do when you were a kid and wanted to cross the street: Stop, look and listen. Just observe whats going on inside you. How do you feel? Does your stomach hurt? Are you shaking? Are you suddenly very tired or sad? You might ask, Have I felt this way before? You might remember another experience that triggered you in the same way. Theres nothing to do with these observations. The idea is simply to make them, and to be fully present with whatevers happening inside you. With a little practice, youll begin to feel more peaceful and able to act from a place of more awareness.

Do one thing at a time.

This may sound crazy in a world where multi-tasking has been elevated to a fine art. But it isnt always the best thing to do, particularly when youre dealing with another person who needs your attention or a task that requires precision. Turn off the TV when you have a conversation. Close your email program when someone calls. Walk away from distractions and really concentrate on participating with everything youve got. Youll find that you get more done and youll do everything better. If you find yourself itching to do three things at once, follow the two steps above: breathe and be your experience.

Make notes.

You may want to keep a notebook chronicling you progress. At the end of the day, or whenever you have a quiet moment, jot down your observations about what you did well and what you need to work on. What experiences did you find it easy to be there for, and which ones were a real challenge? This process helps you to focus your attention, and to internalize the information you receive on all levels.

Be kind to yourself.

Remember, even the most adept yogis have to practice the art of being there. And we live in a culture that puts no great store in mindfulness. It will take time to quiet your inner self and to learn that youre safe in each moment. If you practice, though, youll start to notice shifts quite quickly. Be sure to be there fully for these little triumphs, and to honor yourself as you walk the path of greater awareness.