Hello friend,
We are getting close to the halfway point of our Year of Presence.
It feels like a good moment to pause to notice:
Are you returning a little more often?
Are you remembering presence a little sooner?
Are you finding small moments where life feels more available again?
One thing has encouraged me deeply:
A large percentage of subscribers are engaging with every post.
That matters because Year of Presence is training your return journey to presence.
A return practiced once is a moment.
A return practiced repeatedly becomes a capacity.
A capacity practiced over time becomes a way of living.
That’s what our Year of Presence is about.
Repeatedly returning to presence to feel life deeply becomes a habit
‘Presence’ can sound abstract.
But not having presence does not feel abstract.
It feels like life is happening, but you are not fully in it.
The day moves.
The screen pulls.
The mind races.
The body tightens.
The next thing arrives before you have felt the thing you are already living.
Presence is feeling contact with yourself, your body, and what matters to you.
Presence is experiencing your deep connection with the life.
Over the next several weeks, I’m going to lean into 60-Second Presence as our practice.
A few times a week, I’ll send short Presence Shifts like the video above.
Some will be general and others some will be for specific moments: before responding, after scrolling, before sleep, etc.
About 60 seconds for each rep.
One quick return journey using the same 5 Inner Steps:
Answer → Intend → Focus → Flow → Begin
A short Sunday reset
Step 1: Answer.
What’s the strongest feeling inside you right now?
One word is enough.
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Step 2: Intend.
Silently say:
I’m returning to presence to I can feel my life deeply again.
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Step 3: Focus.
Feel your feet.
Feel your hands.
Feel your breath.
Feel the room around you.
Let your body know you are here.
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Breath deeply.
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Step 4: Flow.
See one moment this week where you want to be more present.
Not the whole year.
Not the whole life.
One moment.
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—
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Step 5: Begin.
Choose one small way to return today.
A breath.
A walk.
A pause before responding.
A hand on your heart.
A moment with someone you love.
When you’re ready, begin.
Stay present,
Sean
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New here?
The simplest place to begin is with your 60-Second Presence Profile.
You’ll receive a free psychologist-designed reflection in about 60 seconds.
It is not a diagnosis, or a label.
It is a short reflection on how you may tend to lose presence — and how you may begin returning.
After you read your Profile, complete Presence Shift Foundation.
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Sean Sullivan, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and creator of The Presence Shift®, a science-based, five-step ritual for returning to presence in real-life moments. His year-long training, Year of Presence, helps people live with more presence through five Inner Steps that become second nature.
Important note
This work is designed as presence and nervous-system training.
It is not a substitute for medical or mental health care.
This is not therapy, diagnosis, medical advice, or crisis support.
It is a short presence-training practice.
If you are in immediate danger, contact local emergency services.
If you need crisis support in the U.S., call or text 988.
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 anger, conflict, abuse, trauma, grief, boundaries, 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.
