Staying in the Present when Life Feels Uncertain
Over the past few weeks, my daughter has been facing serious health issues.
It’s been one of those strange in-between times where life narrows to what matters most, yet the mind expands into every possible future scenario.
I’ve noticed how quickly I leave the present—planning, predicting, trying to create certainty in situations that simply don’t offer it.
And the reminder has been humbling:
We don’t get certainty. We only ever get this moment.
But staying in the present isn’t a peaceful destination you arrive at once.
It’s a practice—one I’m still battling with every day.
Some moments I manage it well. Others not so much. But I keep coming back, breath by breath.
And this isn’t just personal….
It matters deeply for organisations.
When leaders and teams get stuck in future fears or overloaded by “what ifs,” clarity drops, collaboration suffers, and reactivity takes over. Presence is what helps people think clearly, respond intentionally, and navigate complexity with steadiness.
Here are three practices that help me return to the present when my mind runs ahead.
1. Notice where your mind is.
The goal isn’t to stop your thoughts—it’s to notice them.
A simple question interrupts the spiral:
“Where is my mind right now?”
For individuals, this builds emotional resilience.
For organisations, it strengthens collective awareness—the ability to step out of autopilot and see what’s actually happening, not what we assume or fear.
2. Use slow, full body breathing as an anchor.
When the mind races, the body contracts.
Slow, full-body breathing creates the opposite effect - your chest, ribs, and belly all expanding with each inhale, then softening on the exhale. Try:
A slow, steady breath in…and an even slower breath out.
This resets your nervous system and brings you back into your body.
In organisations, regulated breathing improves clarity, decision-making, and reduces the emotional spread of stress across teams.
3. Ground through your senses.
Your senses are one of the quickest ways to return to the present.
A 10-second check-in helps:
What can I see?
What can I hear?
What can I feel?
And what can I smell?
Scent is an especially powerful grounding tool. For thousands of years, First Nations peoples have used the smell of crushed gum leaves to centre themselves and reconnect with Country. That simple, sharp scent brings the mind out of the future and back into what’s here, now.
Together, these practices help individuals reset, and in workplaces they help teams slow down, listen better, and respond with intention rather than urgency.
The Power of this Moment
The last few weeks have reinforced to me that control is often an illusion.
We can’t control what happens—but we can choose how we meet it.
Being fully present doesn’t make life calm or predictable. It’s the ongoing practice of returning (again and again and again!) to what we truly have: this moment, this breath, this step.
And when we do that - individually and as a team- we see more clearly, respond with intention, and create organisations that are steadier, more human, and more effective in the face of uncertainty.