Presence is a quality of our true, spiritual identity. It is a state of awareness without judgment, or, as best-selling author Eckhart Tolle would describe it; it is when you become the observer of the voice in your head.
There are numerous beneficial reasons for practicing presence. More than just simply being aware of your surroundings, being present offers you an opportunity to rise above the conflict of the ego mind which allows your mind to connect with the wisdom and compassion of the spiritual realm. This is what is described in A Course in Miracles as being “above the battleground.” It is further taught in A Course in Miracles that there are no solutions found in the battleground because it is a place where conflict arises. One must bring their mind above the conflict to a more neutral place to gain any clarity and inspiration for action.
Here are some feel-good benefits of practicing presence…
Focus – Being present helps you to develop focus because you are dissociating from your ego’s chatter. You will also be taking in important information that you could have otherwise missed because you could have been playing out an ego scenario in your mind.
Connection – One of my favourite benefits of presence is connection. This is when you truly feel the person you are speaking with. Or when you really feel the love of your pet by your side. I even practice this when I’m out walking, I still my mind and feel the peaceful energy of nature all around me. It’s invigorating! There is life energy all around us, we just need to stop and connect with it.
Peace – The ego is complex and it loves to tell a tale. Practicing presence helps you to feel removed from the ego’s stories, so much so that at some point you will truly recognize that the voice in your head isn’t actually you. This is peace. In this state, you will find yourself less reactive and more calm and observant in situations.
Solutions – A Course in Miracles teaches that all answers come to a quiet mind. Whether you are thinking about what to do as a career, or for retirement, and even as to what to make for dinner or what to wear to an event, all of your answers are found through presence. Solutions require peace, presence, and space. Clarity then comes forth and all things are resolved in peace.
How to Practice Presence
- You can begin to practice presence by quieting your mind at every opportunity! Welcome the gap between your thoughts. Once you have that gap, let that space of no-thought, grow.
- Take a mental step back from judging your surroundings, meaning, observe without attaching or labeling objects.
- Deep breathe for a few minutes, uninterrupted each day. Challenge yourself; begin with one minute of deep breathing, then add a minute as it gets easier for you. Invite your family to be present with you. Introduce it and model it. Deep breathe together before bed (an excellent way to get children to calm down) or you could take a few deep breaths together in the morning to help everyone focus before the day continues.
- When waiting in line at a café, ignore your phone and take in the subtleties of the environment without judgement. Breathe in the aroma of coffee, hear the café music, feel your feet firmly standing on the ground, and let your muscles relax. You can also do this any other time you find yourself waiting. You could even take the initiative to allow a few minute intervals throughout your day to feel peace.
The positive thing about being present is that you actually end up craving those moments of peace. Practicing presence is one of the healthiest habits you can create for yourself!
