What They Said

Where are you really right now? Neuroscientist Sam Harris reminds us, "The present is the only time... we have to be alive." Let's explore this potent quote about mindfulness, connection, and the richness hidden in the now moment.
Where is your mind right now? Seriously. Are you fully listening? Or are you also partly thinking about what you need to do later? Maybe replaying a conversation from yesterday? It’s so easy for our minds to wander, isn’t it? Which brings us to a really grounding quote from neuroscientist and philosopher Sam Harris: "The present is the only time that any of us have to be alive—to know the self, to be with others." What does that actually mean for us, day to day?
Let's break it down. "The present is the only time... we have to be alive." It sounds almost too simple, right? Obvious, even. Of course, we're alive now. But how often do we truly inhabit this present moment? Our bodies are here, but our minds are often time-traveling – dwelling on past regrets or future anxieties. Harris is pointing out that our actual experience of life, the raw data of consciousness, happens only in the now. The past is just memory traces in the present; the future is just thoughts and projections happening… well, now. This very second is the only point of contact we have with reality.
Then he adds the crucial purposes accessible only in this present: "...to know the self, to be with others." Think about that. How can you truly understand yourself – your thoughts, feelings, sensations – if you're not paying attention to what's actually arising within you right now? Self-knowledge isn't found by endlessly analyzing the past or dreaming of a future self; it’s discovered in the direct experience of your present state. Are you feeling restless? Curious? Content? That awareness is available only now.
And "to be with others"? How often are we physically with someone, but mentally miles away? Checking our phones, planning our response instead of truly listening, lost in our own thoughts? Real connection, empathy, understanding – that requires presence. It means tuning in to the person in front of you, to the nuances of the conversation, to the shared space between you, which can only happen in the present moment. Distraction is the enemy of true connection.
This quote isn't necessarily saying don't learn from the past or plan for the future. It seems to be emphasizing where life actually happens. It’s an invitation to practice mindfulness, to gently bring our wandering minds back to the here and now, again and again. Because this present moment isn't just a stepping stone to somewhere else; it is the destination. It's the only place we can truly experience life, understand ourselves, and connect authentically with the world and the people in it.
It sounds simple, but living this way feels radical in our hyper-distracted world. What does "being present" mean to you in practical terms? And what's one small way you could try to be more present, either with yourself or with someone else, just for today? Share your thoughts on presence in the comments section on the podcast, on our website englishpluspodcast.com, or over on our Patreon page. Let's explore this together.