In Chapter 5, Eckhart starts to unpack what presence really is. Not as an idea. Not as a concept. But as something you can begin to feel and experience for yourself. This chapter is called The State of Presence and it has been one of the most practical and grounding parts of the book for me.
In the video above, I share a few big ideas from this chapter and talk about how they have shaped my own journey. If something in this post speaks to you, the video will take it deeper. You can also find a full video for every chapter of this book here:
Watch the full series on YouTube
The State of Presence
Presence is not something you create. It is what remains when you let go of everything else. When you are not lost in thought about the past or the future. When you are fully here with what is.
When I first started practicing presence, it felt awkward. My mind wanted to keep doing something. It wanted to fix. It wanted to narrate. But slowly, I started to find little moments where the mind quieted and I could just be. Washing my hands. Listening to a bird outside. Sitting with my daughter as she talked about her day.
It wasn’t dramatic. But it was real.
Understanding Presence as a Type of Waiting
Eckhart describes presence as a kind of waiting, but not the anxious or restless waiting most of us are used to. It is not waiting for something to happen. It is not waiting for your life to get better or for the moment to improve. It is a quiet, alert stillness.
The first time I noticed this was when I was sitting outside. I had no agenda. No phone. Nothing to figure out. At first my mind kept jumping in with plans and commentary. But then, for a few moments, it quieted. I felt this open space where nothing needed to be added. Nothing needed to be fixed.
It felt like waiting, but there was no impatience. No tension. Just a simple, alert stillness.
Beauty Arises in the Stillness of Your Presence
This idea surprised me when I started to live it out. Eckhart says beauty is revealed in the stillness of presence. Not because the world changes, but because we are finally here to see it.
I began to notice small things that felt profoundly beautiful. The way light came through the trees. The sound of my son laughing in the other room. A quiet evening at home. It was all there before, but I had been too distracted to notice.
When you are fully present, even the ordinary moments start to shine.
Watch the Full Video
If any of these ideas speak to you, I hope you will watch the full Chapter 5 video above. In it, I share more about how these practices have shaped my life and how they continue to invite me back to the now.
This is part of a full 10-part video series, with one video for each chapter of The Power of Now. If you are walking through this book or returning to it again, you are not alone. We are in this together. You can watch the whole series here: Watch the full series on YouTube
If something stood out to you in the reading or the video, I would love to hear about it. Leave a comment and share your favorite part or any ah-ha moments you noticed.
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