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Turning Dread into Presence

Jan 14, 2025

For most of my life, I’ve wrestled with existentialism and dread. When you’ve had your fair share of crummy things happen, your mind has a way of pulling you back to the past or dragging you into worst-case scenarios about the future. It’s exhausting. It creates analysis paralysis, procrastination, and a pile of other useless things. Living in that state feels like you’re bracing for a punch that might never come. And if it does, you’ve already suffered twice.

Recently, though, I decided to fight back, not by trying to control the uncontrollable but by stepping out of my head and into the moment. It started as an experiment…something to combat the projections of disaster that felt so automatic. But it’s become something much bigger than that. It’s become a practice, a way of life.

The Practice of Attention

I’ve found that tuning into the moment is like building a muscle. At first, it’s hard. Your mind fights it. It wants to pull you back to that familiar loop of fear and regret. But the more you practice, the stronger the muscle gets. And for me, the tools I’ve been using…photography, meditation, writing…are my weights, my training ground.

  • Photography:
    When you’re behind the lens, there’s no room for distraction. You have to scan your surroundings consider light, background and focal length. You’re immersed in the present, looking for beauty or meaning in what’s right in front of you in that moment. It’s a practice in seeing…not just with your eyes but with your whole being.
  • Meditation:
    This is the opposite kind of focus. Instead of engaging with the external, you’re tuning into the internal. There’s nothing happening, and that requires attention, too. It’s about sitting with stillness, observing your thoughts without attaching to them, and letting them pass like clouds in the sky.
  • Writing:
    Writing forces you to hold onto a thought, to format it, and to give it structure. Your mind is capable of a lot more speed than your fingers. You can’t write without paying attention…to the idea, to the words, to the act of typing itself. It’s a way of taking the chaos of your mind and channeling it into something tangible.

Through these practices, I’ve started to notice something shift. The projections, the dread, the catastrophizing…they’re losing their grip. I’m worrying less about what might go wrong and focusing more on what’s right here. The light hitting a tree. The sound of laughter in the next room. The simple act of breathing. These aren’t just distractions; they’re anchors. And the more I stay anchored, the less the storm matters.

Becoming Myself in the Moment

I’ve realized this: By being fully present in the moment, I’m not just living; I’m creating. I’m creating the version of myself I’m supposed to be in the future. Every moment I spend in attention…whether it’s behind a camera, during a guided meditation, or at the keyboard…is a step toward becoming more grounded, more aligned, and more me.

The irony is that the very things I turned to as a way to escape dread…photography, meditation, writing…haven’t just helped me cope. They’ve helped me grow. They’ve given me a sense of purpose, connection, and wonder. And that feels like the exact opposite of dread. It feels like hope.

The Beauty of the Moment

I still have bad moments….flashbacks. I still struggle with thoughts I’d rather not have. But the difference now is that I have tools. I have practices that pull me out of my head and into the beauty of my moment. And in those moments, I feel like I’m not just surviving…I’m living.

Maybe that’s the whole point. Maybe by being fully present now, I’m creating a future worth stepping into.

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Patterns in Motion: Insights from a Life Spent Paying Attention

If you’re in a position of authority at a Car Dealership…This is for you
The Car Biz a world full of noise, I’ve made a life by paying attention—spotting patterns, identifying undercurrents, finding the deltas, and making sense of the chaos. When I notice emerging trends, I call them Bobservations.

When these observations prove noteworthy and actionable, they evolve into what I call Manorisms—principles and strategies that demand action. These are the insights I share with you, turning thought into movement.

Freedom • Curiosity • Vision • Growth • Kindness • Grit • Loyalty

Bob Manor's Mission Statement

"To empower individuals and businesses by sharing three decades of unparalleled expertise and insights in the Canada-US auto wholesale market. My mission is to guide and inspire through the principles of the B4 Method, fostering a balance of professional success and personal well-being. I am committed to providing tailored, strategic advice and practical solutions that drive growth, efficiency, and resilience. By blending my deep industry knowledge with a holistic approach to life and work, I aim to help others navigate their paths with confidence and clarity, building lasting relationships based on trust, integrity, and mutual growth."