The Third Core Process of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Contact with the Present Moment

The third core process of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is "Contact with the Present Moment," which focuses on bringing conscious, non-judgmental attention to current experiences. This mindfulness involves acknowledging thoughts, sensations, and emotions without avoidance or suppression, fostering psychological flexibility to align actions with personal values even amid discomfort. However, many individuals struggle with genuine present-moment awareness, particularly in the face of pressing global issues like climate change. Denial manifests through avoidance of uncomfortable truths, often leading to rationalizations for inaction. Phrases like "I live in the present" can become shields to disengage from urgent environmental crises, prioritizing transient comforts over necessary ecological actions. Psychological mechanisms such as moral disengagement and cognitive biases (like present bias and optimism bias) further entrench denial, resulting in a disconnection between knowledge of global threats and personal accountability. This creates a “made-up reality” where individuals avoid existential anxiety by focusing on daily, manageable tasks while ignoring larger systemic issues. Ironically, the common encouragement to "live in the present" may contradict the mindful engagement ACT advocates, as it often leads to a disengagement from the genuine realities that require attention and action.