Hello friend,
If you’re wondering whether the Year of Presence is for you, begin here.
This post gives you two ways into the same foundation practice:
the full 13-minute Foundation Presence Shift above
and the free 5-minute Foundation Training Run in The Presence Shift app
Both teach the same five Inner Steps:
Answer → Intend → Focus → Flow → Begin
The longer video lets you settle into the full rhythm in depth.
The shorter app Training Run teaches the same pattern in a more direct, repeatable way.
If you’d like to begin in the app, start here:
→ Begin the free Foundation Training Run
What this first Presence Shift is for
Presence Shift 1 is the foundation.
It is both:
your first full Presence Shift
and a ritual you can return to anytime throughout the year
Its purpose is simple:
to let your nervous system feel the full arc of return to presence at least once, clearly.
Not as an idea.
As a lived experience.
When you complete the shift and actually begin the next step of your day from presence, the training begins.
That is the point of this Year of Presence.
And yes, you can begin anytime throughout the year.
Two ways to begin
1. Begin with the full Foundation video
Treat the video at the top of this post as your first complete rep.
Before you press play, you might quietly notice:
On a scale from 1–10, how peaceful and present do I feel right now?
Then press play and simply follow the 5 Inner Steps:
Answer → Intend → Focus → Flow → Begin
When it ends, actually begin the next step of your day — even if that just means taking one small 10-second action from your more present state.
2. Begin with the free Foundation Training Run in the app
If you prefer — or if you want a shorter first doorway — begin with the app.
The free Foundation Training Run takes about five minutes and teaches the full rhythm once, clearly.
It continues automatically the first time so your nervous system can feel the structure all the way through.
→ Run the free Foundation Training Run
How to know whether this work is for you
If you finish either version and notice yourself thinking something like:
“Something real just shifted for me.”
then this year is probably for you.
Not because the experience was perfect.
But because the nervous-system training has already begun to take hold.
For some people, the Foundation Presence Shift creates an immediate and profound difference in how they feel.
But what matters most is noticing any real shift at all.
Even a 5–10% shift matters.
Consistently noticing those smaller shifts is how mastery develops.
What comes next
After Foundation, the path is simple.
First, watch the short Introduction to the Year of Presence.
Then move through the Three Introductory Presence Shifts — See One, Do One, and Live One.
After that, settle into the weekly rhythm of the Year of Presence.
I’ll send those links in your welcome email, and I’ll also keep them gathered in one place here:
Over time, more of the app will open in stages — including weekly guided rituals and the growing Choose a Presence Shift library.
But the first doorway stays the same:
Foundation.
Begin here.
Return here anytime.
If you’re ready
Take one slow breath.
And silently say:
I fully intend to live with more presence this year.
Pause.
Let that land.
Then begin in whichever way feels right:
→ Watch the full Foundation video above
or
→ Begin the free Foundation Training Run
Stay present,
Sean
Sean Sullivan, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and creator of The Presence Shift®, a science-based, 5-step ritual for presence shifting in real life moments.
Important note
This work is designed as presence and nervous-system training. It is not a substitute for medical or mental health care. If you have a history of significant trauma or if strong emotions keep coming up, I strongly recommend working with a well-trained therapist you trust alongside this practice.
Emotional Safety Notice & Warning
The statements on The Presence Shift® have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. This project is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The Presence Shift® is not intended as medical advice or as a replacement for professional health or mental health services.
Some content may be emotionally provocative, including references to abuse, trauma, grief, and other difficult experiences. If you are not feeling comfortable, please stop until you feel safe again. You can explore getting emotional support anytime at wannatalkaboutit.com — or by calling 988 in the United States or your local crisis line.
