EWP :: 20. Tolerating the present moment

Embodied Writing Pleasure series

Learning to tolerate discomfort, and specifically the discomfort of remaining present, takes time and practice. I invite you to practice in small increments, and to not expect that you will be able to be 100% present 24/7 just because you decide you want to be.

In fact, I don't believe we can actually be fully present 24/7. I believe we actually need time to "check out" or "zone out" to allow our brains to rest in the foreground and process quietly in the background. Time for us to not be connecting with others and allow for solitude and silence. Time to not be worrying about our environment, but to just sit in it and let ourselves be.

I'm neurospicy, and solitude and “recovery time” are very important. I recognize for some folks solitude may not be high on their list of wants or needs. However, I do recommend that all of us try times of solitude, of quiet, of intentionally not paying attention.

When we are learning how to tolerate being present, feeling the sensations and emotions in ou…