With the increasing societal and cultural drive and desire to be ultra-productive, we can easily make the mistake of habitually multitasking in the attempt to get more done. Yet the truth is that not only can multitasking become counterproductive in terms of productivity itself, it can also rob us and others of joy, meaning, purpose and divine blessings in the tasks and experiences of our lives.
THE PROPHETIC PATH OF PRESENCE
Presence and the Path of Spiritual Excellence
In this short video, I share how learning to focus and become present is in reality an act of love that makes us one with what we are doing and who we are with. By fully turning towards and engaging what we do or who we are with, we turn basic and daily activities into acts of worship that then channel the light and grace of God into our lives and the lives of others.
The way of presence is the way of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who demonstrated that a life of spiritual excellence is a life of perpetual presence in which we honor the present moment by learning to honor what we do and who we are with, and that doing so leads to the divine pleasure of God.
How to Cultivate Presence and Awaken Love
To learn how to cultivate greater presence and thus love in your life, I suggest learning how to breathe, slow down and become still. Learn how to consciously let go of that which is not now, i.e. of past and future, and fully focus on where you are and what you are doing now. Remember that no task and no encounter is trivial, and that all are willed by Allah Almighty.
Additionally, as the blessed Prophet ﷺ advised, “Keep your tongue moist with dhikr.” In this way, the entirety of your life becomes an act of worship that benefits you and others both here and hereafter (for more on this topic and to learn how to cultivate greater presence, please see Islamic Meditation).
To your divine and eternal success.
