Presence Is about Slowing Down and Coming Home

"May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of
soul.
Take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek
no attention.
Be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.
​May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder. "
Excerpt from For Presence ― John O'Donohue

​This month I’m thinking about presence. This is not new for me since my Presence-Based Coaching (PBC) training in 2018. Present is what I aspire to be in my work, with my clients, with my family and friends, even and actually most importantly, with myself. It’s simple but not easy to be in the moment. It’s a micro choice of being here, right now, right where I am. And our world is full of distractions from presence – the multitude of devices, the multitude of news stories, ads, websites, the multitude of text messages, the multitude of emails (don’t get me started, my multitude is more than most) all being thrown at me all day long. And then there’s the multitude of to-do’s on my list, the multitude of meetings on my calendar that aren’t distractions at all, however they can be invitations to step away from presence especially when I get in my head and my judge starts prattling on about me, others, what's happening.

Not only is all of this keeping me jumping and worrying but also my brain is keeping me on autopilot which for me is about busy, busy, busy – fit it all in, get it all done and while you are at it don't forget to do it perfectly and make sure everyone is happy too (yes, I do KNOW all that is impossible and yet, that's where my default brain takes me regularly). Every moment we each face an onslaught of sensory, intellectual, and emotional input. Our brains decide what deserves attention and that can depend on many factors, most of which have been baked in since childhood. Old stories and habits that run our lives take us down paths that are well worn. That's definitely where I get stuck, the doing it right, making everyone happy. Phew, it’s a lot!

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