I promise this blog is not an English lesson—although I’m sure Mrs. B, with her “grammar” lessons would love if I took it that far! What I’m really talking about is the here and now. What we are doing today—not yesterday, not tomorrow, but NOW. 

I was working with a client who, when we started coaching, continually used these types of phrases:

• I used to be able to do that.
• When I get to that date on the calendar, everything will be fine.
• If I could only learn this skill set around social media, I could make those types of posts.
• I should have done that a month ago.

Are you noticing a theme here? Everything was either about a way things were in the past or some proverbial time in the future where things will be magically okay.  

I posed this question to my client: What if you were speaking in present time?

Say more, the client said. 

Well, I said, I worked with a mentor who got me focused on acting “as if” I were the person or had the thing I was talking about in future tense. 

That same mentor also taught me that the past really is in the past. The lessons that were presented to me during that time are mine to learn if I choose and even apply those lessons to the here and now.

I invited the client to a reframe. Here is what she came up with:

• I am completely capable of accomplishing this task. I have the skills, knowledge, and tools to do it. Today, I will get done what I can towards this project.

• I am a brilliant creation of God. People see light in and through me. My smile lights up a room. I can bring this light with me daily.

• I can spend five minutes a day working on being better at what I do and also know I am doing a great job with my current abilities. I will always be a work in progress. Putting work out there at this stage inspires others, leads to more creativity, and helps me work through vulnerability and embrace courage.

I don’t know about you, but I found these statements to be invigorating, inspiring, empowering, and quite frankly, a breath of fresh air. I started imaging a world where we all embrace our present tense. I started dreaming of a humanity that was healing and meeting each other where we are at and striving to make an impact each day. I almost get goose bumps now just thinking about it.

Where could your life use a little more speaking in the present tense? This is a huge focus on I AM, not I was, not I will be. I AM! If it’s useful for you, I invite you to write down the words “I am” and then a blank after that. Fill in the blank. Keep writing “I am” statements until you really notice yourself grounding in this present tense.

I’d love to hear from you about what you notice and the impact of being in the present tense.