cultivating presence
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Tom Dietvorst
Feb 28, 2026, 10:16:02 AMFeb 28
to Tom Dietvorst
Become aware of your breathing.
[When I pay attention to it, I breathe in and out through my nose. I feel the breath at the tip of my nose. I feel my chest rise and fall. I feel my diaphragm move with each breath. This is a phenomenon, a rhythm that's been going on in me for 75 years. It is always there. Notice what happens in the rest of your body, your mind, as you bring your attention back to breathing, again, and again and again. There's not a lot you cannot do while keeping some of your attention focussed on your breathing.]
See if you can sense the inner energy field of your body. [I notice it most easily in my hands and feet. For me, the sensation changes with the breath. If you want to try something fun - imagine there are magic breathing holes in the ends of your fingers and toes...and although we know you are breathing through your nose or mouth, "sense" the breath moving through "the magic breathing holes" in your fingers and toes]
For many people focussing on the breath and/or the inner energy field of the body brings about a sense of calm, focus, clarity, relaxation - for lack of a better word, "presence."
There are infinite ways to attain presence. [and infinite ways to "escape" it 😍] Find what works for you. I am happy to supply more ideas.
Better, more effective, actions and decisions come from a state of presence.
Non-presence takes up a lot of energy. Leads to a lot of less-than-ideal actions, decisions, and loads of unpleasantness.
"Presence is never closer than it is in this moment; it is never further away"
"Always keep some of your attention in observing your degree of presence"
Like any habit, observing your degree of presence takes patience and persistence.
* Returning to sleep: Focus on your breath, sense the inner energy field of your body. If you are particularly restless try tensing and relaxing your muscles - you can do your whole body at once, you might try it two or three times - or you can work up, starting with your toes - [Why this works - you can actually measure decreased activity in the muscles. I think it works by drawing attention a way from "the mind."] Think to yourself: "You drift; you float; you dream" - as in all things, patience and persistence.
[When I pay attention to it, I breathe in and out through my nose. I feel the breath at the tip of my nose. I feel my chest rise and fall. I feel my diaphragm move with each breath. This is a phenomenon, a rhythm that's been going on in me for 75 years. It is always there. Notice what happens in the rest of your body, your mind, as you bring your attention back to breathing, again, and again and again. There's not a lot you cannot do while keeping some of your attention focussed on your breathing.]
See if you can sense the inner energy field of your body. [I notice it most easily in my hands and feet. For me, the sensation changes with the breath. If you want to try something fun - imagine there are magic breathing holes in the ends of your fingers and toes...and although we know you are breathing through your nose or mouth, "sense" the breath moving through "the magic breathing holes" in your fingers and toes]
For many people focussing on the breath and/or the inner energy field of the body brings about a sense of calm, focus, clarity, relaxation - for lack of a better word, "presence."
There are infinite ways to attain presence. [and infinite ways to "escape" it 😍] Find what works for you. I am happy to supply more ideas.
Better, more effective, actions and decisions come from a state of presence.
Non-presence takes up a lot of energy. Leads to a lot of less-than-ideal actions, decisions, and loads of unpleasantness.
"Presence is never closer than it is in this moment; it is never further away"
"Always keep some of your attention in observing your degree of presence"
Like any habit, observing your degree of presence takes patience and persistence.
* Returning to sleep: Focus on your breath, sense the inner energy field of your body. If you are particularly restless try tensing and relaxing your muscles - you can do your whole body at once, you might try it two or three times - or you can work up, starting with your toes - [Why this works - you can actually measure decreased activity in the muscles. I think it works by drawing attention a way from "the mind."] Think to yourself: "You drift; you float; you dream" - as in all things, patience and persistence.
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