How to Cultivate Presence in Your Life
Presence is the greatest gift you can give yourself and to others.
In a world of constant action, presence can be a rebellious act. You may not get immediate gratification from it, but in the long-term presence is an investment in your well-being, and it can help transform our world for the better.
There is an art to living that requires us to learn how to navigate ourselves in the world while also flowing with it. It is a constant balancing act achieved through continuous attunement with your higher self and its connection to the energy of the world. Presence is a key. Presence is an act of participation in life, and an art of being aware in the here and now, in your body, with your spirit. Conscious of your energy, your breath, and the constant current of energy flowing through and all around us. A feeling of solid constancy while also feeling the very subtle and minute changes flowing through life.
Life’s journey can be compared to navigating a river in a kayak. Life is the river. Your body is the kayak. Either your untamed ego or your highest self/soul is navigating it.
The untamed ego will actively try to navigate the kayak, controlling where it’s going at all times. It may have an idea of where it thinks it should go = illusion, and will spend all of its energy trying to get there. It refuses to pause when its tired. It may try to get back to where it once was in the past by paddling upstream. It may know deep down where it’s paddling towards is leading to unhappiness or danger but will do it anyways. It may predict a patch that could be potentially dangerous down the river and will try to avoid that direction. It may stay in one particular spot that seems good enough, will use all its energy to stay within the confines of that area, and will avoid venturing elsewhere. Or it may give up all together and park itself on the bank watching the river flow by.
The higher self or soul navigates the river of life with presence. The soul is connected with the body, it is a master of the kayak. The soul steers the kayak with the flow of the river in the direction it’s meant to go in, as if the soul, kayak and river are all one. The soul and the vessel become a part of the river by connecting energetically with it, and together it gets the soul to where it needs to go. The soul knows how to flow with the currents of the river and use it to its advantage. The river currents indicate when its time to go with the flow, pause, or go in a different direction. The soul steers the kayak through the currents, using its ability and activity to work with the current; it still requires effort.
Presence allows the soul in the vessel to be in-tune with the state of the body/kayak, knowing when it’s time to refuel, rest, or repair. Presence allows the soul to be in-tune with the conditions of the river and its environment, knowing when it’s time to act/go, pause/stop, turn directions, or maneuver obstacles. Presence allows the soul to be in-tune with all of the subtle messages and information being given at any moment. And it allows for all to work together harmoniously.
If one is still operating in the state of the untamed ego, cultivating awareness and presence can help you connect with your higher self or soul. Simply being aware of the state of your kayak/body, and the conditions of the river/life can help you begin to see past illusions and break through. It can help you sustainably navigate the obstacles and conditions of life . If you are too busy looking behind you and too worried and stressed about what’s coming in the future, you will not be able to see the river right in front of you. And when those boulders come in your path, they will hit you by surprise. Or when the beautiful moments and vistas open up, you will miss them. The goal of life is not to just get there, but to be present in the river’s journey. It is what gives life meaning and it is how one develops personally.
Presence is what allows you to see what is right in front of you and what is coming up ahead.
Sometimes life does beat us up or we have tired ourselves out without balance or replenishment. Parking our kayak on the side of the river to pause and take a break for as long as you need is smart. It’s important to know when we need to take time to tend to our body, or care for our injuries, or heal (physically and emotionally) before we can carry on in the journey ahead. Instead of trying to move forward while suffering, sometimes the best thing is to recognize when we need to rest and help ourselves first instead of trying to get on with it. Time for rest is what allows us to cultivate a practice of presence. Rest gives us space and time to be with ourselves, process lessons from our experiences, and reflect on intentions for the journey ahead. When we are healthy and our heads are clear, we can see more clearly and have all senses sharpened when it’s time to get back into the river. Sometimes we need to reconcile the journey we endured up until now, and not let it affect how we perceive the journey ahead. We can even hold excitement for the journey ahead, trusting that it will bring us to some wonderful places.
Presence is the practice of being at peace with where you are right now.
Presence can be cultivated by taking plenty of space, time and rest for yourself. Having periods of time throughout the day regularly to do absolutely nothing is the best way to practice presence. This time is best taken outdoors in nature. Park yourself at the park, go for a leisurely hike in the forest, or go for a light swim in the ocean. Allow the sunshine to recharge your being, the wind to clean your body, and take a deep breath. Look up at the clouds and fall into them as they float by. There really is nothing to do. You can just sit on a park bench or lay on a blanket and practice being in the present. Admiring nature is the easiest way to get lost in presence. Anchor your full self in your body, feel, and be. Let go of all worries, concerns, or to-do’s in this moment, as if you’re leaving them all behind. Time is not running out. You can also practice meditation, free talking, journaling, photography, weaving, gardening, intuitive movement, and sweeping to exercise presence and expression in the moment. These are all tools I found to be useful in cultivating presence every day in my life.
Presence equips us with a state of being to masterfully navigate the river of life. It allows us to show up for the present moment, learn, and enjoy the journey. It allows us to truly connect with life, with ourselves, and with others.