Presence: The Spiritual Coaching Foundations #8

Presence - Rebecca Kirk

The final foundation is one which I consider to be the most profound and potentially the most transformative for your career journey (and life generally). Here, I share with you what I have learnt from the great teachers about presence, exactly how it can support you within your working life and some ways in which to practice and experience it. (I believe I may have saved the best till last!)

What is presence?

There are two different aspects to presence:

  1. The practice of being fully focused in the moment rather than in the past or the future (this is ‘presence’ with a small p).
  2. The Universal life force (or God/Source etc) which exists both within you and around you (this is ‘Presence’ with a capital P).

The two are very much inter-connected.  As Eckhart Tolle puts it in his book The Power of Now, “through the present moment, you have access to the power of God and God has access to you”.  In a sense, you tap into your true power when you are fully present.  

 

How presence can support you

There are so many ways in which presence (and Presence) can support you within your working life:

  • It enables you to truly focus on the work you are doing – be that a project you’re working on, or the clients/customers/patients/students you are serving.  When we become present, we don’t waste time and energy thinking about the past or the future which means we can channel our energy on what we are doing in the moment and therefore become far more effective.
  • It enables you to tap into a source of power – when you open up to become a vessel and let the Universe (Presence) work through you, you bring an added dimension in, which empowers you in what you are doing.  
  • It enables you to enjoy and appreciate what you are doing and what you have in the here and now rather than dreaming of some point in the future when you have this or that.  
  • It enables you to experience a sense of inner peace and calm – as you are no longer dwelling on the past or the future – which can be a source of depression and anxiety.
 

Opportunities to practice presence

There are many opportunities through the course of a day when you can practice presence, such as:

A daily practice – as part of your regular meditation, yoga or journaling practices or when you’re out walking your dog or in nature

Everyday moments – seemingly mundane moments when, for example, you’re waiting in a queue, traveling somewhere or even doing housework or brushing your teeth

Challenges/crises – when you’re in the middle of something challenging, this is an opportunity to remain present and calm rather than catastrophising and to invite the Universe in to work through you.

 

4 Easy Ways to Practice Presence

1. Focus your attention

Bring your fullest attention to whatever you are doing at any given moment. Become acutely aware of your thoughts and whether they have drifted off into the future or the past. Then lovingly bring yourself back to this moment. Deep listening is a very simple but powerful way of bringing more presence into your life. Also when you are eating a meal, you can practice more presence by fully focusing on what you are eating and connecting with your senses.

2. Feeling v Thinking

Let go of thought (even if just for a few brief moments) and instead fully experience whatever it is you are engaged in. Use your senses to feel instead of think and to get out of your head. Notice how you are experiencing whatever you are doing in your body rather than just through your thoughts. 

3. Conscious Breathing

This is one of the simplest and most effective ways to practice presence.  Focusing on your breathing can instantly ground you in the present moment, no matter what is happening around you.  Just follow the in-breath then the out-breath and notice any sensations as you do.  It can help to have an essential oil on hand to remind you to take a pause, inhale the aroma and connect with your senses.

4. Invite Presence in

When you are next engaged with a customer, in a work meeting, an interview or doing some writing, set an intention beforehand to open yourself up and invite the Universe in and to work through you.  For me, lighting a candle can also really help to open this space up and remind me of that presence in the background.

I HOPE THIS BRIEF LOOK AT THE TOPIC OF PRESENCE HAS SPARKED SOMETHING WITHIN YOU AND THAT YOU FEEL MOTIVATED TO BRING IT IN TO YOUR WORKING LIFE MORE. ONCE YOU START ACCESSING THE CALMNESS AND THE POWER THAT AWAITS, YOU WILL WANT TO MAKE THIS A DAILY HABIT!

here's to THE POWER OF NOW...

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Spiritual Career Coaching

Hello, I'm Rebecca

Career Coach for people on a spiritual path

I support mid-career professionals who are  ready to make a career change, launch into a more purpose-led career or business or simply enjoy a more fulfilling or balanced working life.  

believe that we all have a purpose here on earth and that life is too short to be stressed, unfulfilled and playing small. 

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