[SUNDAY SOUL NOTE] The Gift of Presence: Finding Joy in What Already Is
- Elena Zanfei
- May 31
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 26
There are rare, crystalline moments in life when it all just… lands.
And I've found that it rarely happens because you've finally checked everything off your list, or because you had more money, more time, or achieved some impressive milestone, but rather, it's because you were fully present.
This week, I had a few of those moments, and they caught me off guard in the most beautiful way, making me realize...THIS is what happiness looks like!
Dinner with friends.
Laughter echoed across the table.
The warmth of good food, lovingly made.
Music from eras past, stirring old memories like a gentle breeze that warmed the soul.
The flicker of a fire, flames dancing as if they had a language of their own.
New memories being made.
And as I sat there, I realized…
No amount of striving could have improved that moment.
There was nothing to add. Nothing to fix. Nothing to change.
It was perfect because I was fully present with all of myself.
But contrast that with most days...
You know the ones, where your body is going through the motions but your mind is 4 miles ahead.
You're doing the dishes, but you’re reliving yesterday’s awkward conversation.
You’re walking the dog, but mentally, you’re already on next week’s to-do list.
You're talking to someone you love, but your mind is solving a problem, and you're barely listening to what they're saying.
It’s like your brain is constantly scanning, “What’s next? What’s wrong? What needs fixing?”
We become so used to this mental chatter that we forget what silence feels like.
We mistake planning for purpose.
We confuse mental noise with meaning.
And in that haze, life happens all around us, and we miss it each time.
Practicing being present is the gateway back to a life that feels like it's being lived.
Presence doesn’t require your perfection; it actually doesn't require anything but that you be there, with your full attention.
To sit by a fire and just sit by a fire.
To eat a meal and savor its taste.
To be with someone and really be there with them.
It’s deceptively simple. And deeply sacred. So easy to miss.
Because it’s here, in this quiet, non-striving PRESENT MOMENT, that we feel the pulse of life again. We feel ourselves.
The real us.
Not the version chasing the next thing.
Not the one worried if it’s all “working.”
Not the one bracing for what might go wrong.
Just you. Breathing. Tuning in. Receiving.
And finding out… this is enough.
Here's what I know:
The present moment will never demand more than you already are.
It doesn’t care if you’ve figured everything out.
It doesn’t care if your bank account is full or your inbox is empty.
It welcomes you exactly as you are. And in return, it offers the most priceless gift: PEACE.
✍ Self-Reflection Questions:
Where do I notice myself “mentally multitasking” the most?
What simple pleasures bring me back into presence, instantly?
How might I create a small ritual to return to now throughout my day?
In closing:
This week, I invite you to take a moment to notice just one thing.
A flicker of sunlight. A belly laugh. A deep breath. A long exhale.
Let it hold you. Let it remind you.
You don’t have to chase joy.
You only have to notice it 💗.
Here’s to presence.
Here’s to the miracle of now.
Written by Elena Zanfei | Spiritual Mentor - Empowerment Coach
Empowered You — when you’re ready to rise from pain to power.
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Click HERE:▶ https://www.elenazanfei.com/present-moment-guide
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