Awakening to ourselves can come from a profound system of understanding like the Enneagram. If we stay with this process paying attention to what is happening now, we can begin to experience a subtle presence filling our inner space and our surroundings. When we go inside ourselves, we can interact with life from an inner quiet and stillness listening to our inner wisdom. It is in these moments that we can be present, being fully engaged in the here and now, without distraction or preoccupation. It allows us to connect deeply with ourselves, others, and the world. By cultivating presence, we reduce stress, improve focus, and enrich our relationships. In this way, presence brings a sense of aliveness, helping us experience even the simplest moments with greater richness.
One way we can determine if we are present is to check in with ourselves and notice where we are in the moment. Are we awake to reality? Are we able to be open and attentive in the here and now? The video below provides a process and language for discerning how we can be fully engaged in the here and now. Dive in and see what you think.
Nine Gateways to Presence
Here is a video by Russ Hudson about the nine gateways to presence: https://russhudson.com/nine-gateways-to-presence-video-sample/
An Insight about Presence
One reason I love the Enneagram is because it’s a vehicle to Presence. So, it’s interesting when you Google “presence,” because what does that word mean anyway? The definitions vary: the state of being somewhere, poise, unseen energy, a 2024 supernatural thriller film, etc.
But what about “Presence,” with a capital P? Maybe rather than going to the interwebs, it’s best to go in. At least, that’s what my therapist often invites me to do. “Lauren, go in, and see if you can discover from the inside that which longs to surface and be recognized on the outside.”
For anything authentic to manifest, it is worth remembering that all we have ever needed, need now, and will need again for belonging currently lies within us.
So, do it with me. Let’s “go in” for a moment. Close your eyes, take a beat with an intentional inhale and exhale, and rest in this moment. Be still for a few seconds…
Do you sense it? Whatever it is, that knowing that the cosmos is speaking to you, let it arise.
You see, when we attune ourselves to the vibrations of the sacred, when we assume a posture of attention and deep listening, when we lean in with courage and wonder, when we sit in a posture of vulnerability with openness, we abide in Presence.
Presence calls us away from the masks of pretension with an invitation to behold mystery, receive grace, and practice liberation for ourselves and our communities. Presence does not lessen fear but equips us with bravery to move even amongst it. Presence enhances our relationships by modeling unconditional love. Presence beckons to each of us, in each passing minute with a gentle tenderness and a compassionate knowing that says, “Come, come my way. Come and receive a radical gift as you risk knowing and being known.”
Written by Rev. Dr. Lauren Jones Mayfield, who serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Interfaith Relations in Louisville, KY. She works with the Type 4.