#325 Presence is fulfillment in real time.

Ever stood before something breathtaking—like the Colorado Rockies—only to witness others experiencing it entirely through their phone screens? That disconnect between capturing and truly experiencing life is at the heart of today's reflection on presence.

I caught myself this week nodding and smiling during a conversation while my mind wandered elsewhere. Not maliciously, just split-focused. But that split focus created a split connection, and it made me wonder how often we're physically present but mentally absent from our most important moments.

The mountains remind us of an essential truth: no photograph can capture the multisensory experience of standing before them in real life. Similarly, no amount of documentation, planning, or reminiscing can replace the power of being fully present. Presence is where fulfillment lives—not in highlight reels or future achievements, but in the overlooked, everyday moments that form the fabric of a meaningful life.

Presence makes people feel seen. It transforms hearing into listening. And most importantly, it multiplies fulfillment without requiring more time—it simply asks that we fully show up for the time we already have. So where in your life do you need to be more than just physically present? What conversations, relationships, or experiences deserve your complete attention?

Share what helps you stay grounded when life pulls your focus. Leave a message after the beep, email aaron@growthinstigators.com, or visit growthinstigators.com for our daily emails and free leadership assessment. Because true growth happens when we're fully present for it.

Chapters

• 0:00 Mountains and Missed Moments

Transcript

Speaker 0: 0:00

I actually stopped taking pictures of the Colorado Rockies. I mean, every day I wake up and I can see the mountains take shape and contort to the current weather patterns. In fact, I can be deep into the heart of the mountains in a short one-hour drive. Yeah, I live in a beautiful place. What makes me sad, though, is when tourists come from all over the place to experience the mountains and all they do is take selfie after selfie after selfie. I hate to break it to you Pictures of the Rockies never even come close to the Rockies in real time and real life mountains. Welcome to message 325 of the Growth Instigator Hotline, where we ignite your personal and professional development. I'm Aaron Haven, your host and growth coach.

Speaker 0: 0:47

Fulfillment Friday the power of being present. Here's the one thing I want to lock in today. Presence is fulfillment in real time, not future plans, not past wins, right here, right now. I caught myself this week in a conversation nodding and smiling but thinking about what was next. Not bad intentions, just split focused. But split focus usually means split connection. Is it hard for you to live in the present? Do you catch yourself thinking in the past or future? Tense Presence is where meaning lives, not in the highlight reels, but in the overlooked moments, presence makes people feel seen. It's the difference between hearing and truly listening, and presence multiplies fulfillment. You don't need more time. You need to be there for the time you already have. So here's your reflection to be there for the time you already have, so here's your reflection. Where in your life do you need to show up, not physically, but fully?

Speaker 0: 1:51

Thank you for calling Growth Instigators Hotline. I'd love to hear from you. Leave a message after the beep or send an email to Aaron at growthinstigatorscom and let me know what's one moment this week you wish you had been more present for and what helps you stay grounded when life pulls your focus. And, by the way, do you get our daily emails? If not, why not? They're pretty awesome. And have you taken our free 10 question leadership assessment? What? Why not Visit growthinstigatorscom to get both the emails daily sent to your email box and take the quick 10 question leadership assessment? Why? Because we want to instigate growth in all that you do. So, as always, keep instigating growth in all you do.