The Presence Process: A Healing Journey into Present Moment Awareness

asked by geri1956 on November 6, 2006 1:29 AM

The Presence Process is not about changing who or what we are. This is impossible. Instead, it is about releasing our attachment to our manufactured identity so that we may gently return to an awareness of our authentic Presence. It is about moving from pretence to Presence. It is about consciously connecting with that aspect of our Being that always remains constant. It is about honoring that aspect of our Being that is always present. It is not about becoming something or somebody else. It is about remembering and experiencing who and what we really are and have always been.

The Presence Process is not about changing the nature of what the stars have marked on our forehead, hands, and feet. It is about waking into the fullest potential of each moment that is already destined. It is about responding to our life as it is unfolding right now and not reacting to it as if something else was supposed to be happening. The Presence Process intends to reveal to us that our mistaken desire to change what is happening to us in any given moment is usually born out of an inability to show up and fully enjoy the wonder of our life experience as it is right now.

The Presence Process awakens within us the awareness that it is in the nature of our interaction with what is happening to us right now that we sow the seeds for what is to come beyond the borders of this life experience. It assists us to see that the quality of the seeds that we sow in any given moment is very different depending on whether we choose to react or to respond to our experiences. Reacting to our experience means that we are making our decisions based on what we think happened to us yesterday and what we think may happen to us tomorrow. We are only responding to our experience when we make choices based on what is happening to us right here, right now. It is only possible to respond to our experiences when we unlearn the behaviors and belief systems that lead us into reaction. This "unlearning" is what The Presence Process assists us to accomplish.

There are no failures in The Presence Process, as it is an individual journey driven by commitment, curiosity, and intention. It cannot be experienced for someone else or because of someone else. Activating present moment awareness is an individual responsibility. It is therefore an experience that is by nature immune to comparison or judgment.

The Presence Process is not an end to anything; it is the continuation of a lifelong journey that we have already been making into the heart of our own present moment awareness.

Buy this book

[report to moderator]

Reviews

Probably the most useful book I've encountered in enabling greater ability to "be present" vs. "be in your mind/focused on yourself." Has created significant benefit for me in many areas of life, from business to friends to family of origin to current family (children, spouse). Concept--working backwards through thinking, physical, and feeling planes of experience--seems to work very well. The book structure--written in a way that it engages you beyond your mind, and with exercises that enable deeper engagement--is truly unique. At first reading, I found the language and ideas a little intimidating...not that it's at all difficult, but that it's not at all the typical business read. But it makes more and more sense on each reading, and well worth reviewing/working more than once.

Note: this is NOT a book on technique. You're not going to learn tricks to put emotional charge "aside." This is really about being more alert to charge when it surfaces, and being able to discharge such distractions completely so the energy doesn't have to be contained. And you get to feel truly connected to more people, and yourself, and even experience "unconditional love."

For something more technique-oriented, and less deep, try David Rock's "Quiet Leadership"

reviewed by lovieduvie on November 12, 2006 8:23 PM

[report to moderator]

Michael Brown presents a simple process for ending the self-defeating cycles we all seem to suffer through. He explains why we do this and how to undo it for good. Not a quick fix at all, rather a steady process that any willing participant can do. The heart of the program is two 15-minute breathing sessions (just your plain old breathing, nothing fancy or weird) done morning and night. Christians will know this as centering prayer; others will call it meditation.

If you are: tired of gaining and losing the same 50 lbs., tired to dating the same guy (or gal) who somehow lives in multiple bodies and finds you again and again, tired of emotional baggage running your everyday life, tired of reacting instead of responding, tired of being out of control and tired of pretending you are in control, this is the book for you.

He actually asks you not to make any dramatic changes in your life while you work through this process. But you will change ....

Father Thomas Keating (author of Open Heart, Open Mind) says we spend the rest of our lives trying to recover from the damage incurred in childhood. Brown echoes those sentiments. He says The Presence Process isn't a spiritual program, although you may experience it as such on some level. My take is it's entirely spiritual. The Universe, God, whatever you choose to call The Force will use every bit of your life to bring you to wholeness if you allow it.

I'm a journalist by trade, a long-time traditional Christian, and take everything with a grain of salt. So far, this is one of the most beneficial books I've picked up in my entire life. The Bible was my first big life changer. The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron was number two. The Presence Process is number three.

reviewed by daddyadd on November 16, 2006 3:53 PM

[report to moderator]

add a new book!