What is Presence, really?: A Mindful Path to Mental Health
You might think presence is just being “in the moment, dude”. You might picture a soft-spoken, tie-dye-wearing yogi or a lean, early-rising meditation teacher. And yes — there is a kind of nowness to presence. But what about the quality of that nowness? How does it come about? And why does it matter — especially for mental health, wellbeing, and relationships?
Let’s explore.
What Is Presence?
Presence is more than just being in the now — it’s a state of open awareness, including awareness of awareness. It’s a quality of mind that feels spacious, non-judgmental, and grounded in possibility.
Presence lets us witness experience without getting overwhelmed by it. It offers a kind of neutrality — an ability to observe what’s happening without immediately reacting, labeling, or trying to change it.
To understand presence more fully, we have to touch the edges of something much bigger: how reality itself is constructed.
Presence and the Mind’s Movement
Think of presence as the placement of the mind in a space where all things are still possible. It’s the formless source of all form — a field of awareness from which reality arises.
Reality unfolds along a kind of continuum:
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At one end lies the Plane of Possibility, where countless potential experiences exist but haven’t yet taken shape.
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At the other end are Peaks of Activation — the moments when a particular thought, feeling, or event becomes real.
Between the two is the realm of Probability, where some experiences are becoming more likely than others.
Example: From Possibility to Peak
Let’s say I have a particular food in mind.
At first, the chances of you imagining what I’m thinking of are close to zero — we’re still in the Plane of Possibility.
Then I say: fruit.
Now you’ve narrowed your focus.
Then I say: apple.
Then: Granny Smith.
Suddenly, you might picture a shiny green apple. You might even feel hunger, aversion, nostalgia — or stand up to get a snack.
You’ve moved from potential to probability to realisation. From the Plane to a Peak.
Why Presence Matters for Mental Health
Counselling often begins with someone feeling overwhelmed or stuck.
Overwhelm might signal that the mind is moving too fast from possibility to peak — reacting sharply, without space. This can feel chaotic or out of control.
Stuckness might suggest that one particular pathway — one belief, one response — is being over-activated. The mind has become rigid.
Presence offers a remedy to both. It lets us:
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Pause before reacting
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Notice other possibilities
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Shift from automatic habits to conscious choice
This is the heart of mental flexibility — and a flexible mind is a healthier one.
Presence, Choice, and Coherence
As we practice presence, we become more aware of how our mind moves — from beginning to middle to end — across experiences. We develop the capacity to:
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Recognise when we’re at a peak
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Return to the plane of possibility
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Choose how and whether to engage
That choice might be to try something new, to align with your values, or simply to stay in presence a little longer.
This kind of mindful action — not driven by habit or fear — builds coherence. And when we return to presence again and again, we build stability.
Flexibility. Coherence. Stability.
Three quiet pillars of a well-resourced, resilient mind.
Try This Practice
Throughout your day, pause and notice:
Am I caught in a peak (a strong thought, emotion, or urge)?
Can I widen my awareness to include more possibilities?
Is there a choice available to me right now — even a small one?
Each pause is an invitation into presence.
Want to Take It Deeper?
Presence is the foundation of so many other capacities — emotional regulation, intimacy, boundary-setting, even joy.
If you’d like support cultivating presence in your everyday life, you might enjoy:
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Mindfulness coaching
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Embodied counselling
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Or my upcoming free email course (coming soon) [More on that soon — or subscribe here to be the first to know.]