I have spent my career as a therapist helping people change. I have learned that we cannot force personal growth through sheer willpower or simplistic formulas.
We grow as we stay present and engaged while navigating the complexities of life. Mindful presence means engaging with what happens as it happens. It is an essential part of the living process of change.
What I mean by mindfulness
When people hear “mindfulness,” they often think of sitting down to meditate. That is not what I mean here.
I am not talking about a separate practice. I am talking about a way of staying present and engaged in your life, as things unfold.
“Proactive” does not mean trying harder to control what happens. It means developing your capacity to be present and engaged so it is available when you need it, in real time.
More present in real life
This kind of presence supports lasting growth in therapy, but it is not a skill reserved for the therapy hour or for healing trauma.
It changes how you navigate everyday moments, such as when you feel the pull of an old habit, or when everything in you wants to shut down or lash out.
Being present in those moments gives you a choice in how you respond, rather than being driven by reactivity.
Embodied Presence
I call this way of being present Embodied Presence because it is grounded in being in touch with your body. It is a capacity that you can develop in concrete, down-to-earth ways.
Personal growth does not start by resolving to be different. Resolutions remain abstractions until you start bringing Embodied Presence to what you are doing, as you are doing it.
To get a sense of what this is like for yourself, join our experiential course on Embodied Presence.
More
This site features deep dives on the theory and practice of this expanded approach to mindfulness, including Polyvagal mindfulness.
The Proactive Mindfulness podcast explores what mindful presence feels like from different angles, ranging from healing trauma to living mindfully. It features short talks and conversations with thoughtful guests.
From the podcast
- Inside a Trauma Therapist’s Mind with Glenn Fleisch
- Somatic therapy without body mindfulness?
- Aziz & Maoz: An Israeli and a Palestinian Refuse to Be Enemies
Continue exploring
If this way of approaching mindful change resonates, our newsletter extends the conversation with reflections, podcast highlights, and occasional updates.
