The Art of Presence: Finding Wonder in the Deep and the Daily
Recently, while diving in the Philippines, I rediscovered something profound about presence. Suspended in the azure depths, watching jewel-toned fish dart through coral gardens, all I could hear was the rhythm of my own breath and the gentle release of bubbles. In that moment, I wasn't just observing a new world – I was becoming part of it. The boundary between observer and observed dissolved, and I experienced what it truly means to be present.
This state of pure presence isn't limited to extraordinary experiences. As a transformational executive coach and mindfulness practitioner, I've discovered that this same depth of connection, this same dissolution of boundaries, is possible in any human interaction. Whether in personal development coaching or everyday mindful living, the power of presence transforms both coach and client. But it requires something precious: the courage to bring our full presence into someone else's presence.
Think about a child discovering something for the first time – a caterpillar inching across a leaf, a dewdrop catching morning light, or even a simple cardboard box transformed by imagination. There's no judgment, no past, no future. There's only wonder, curiosity, and openness to whatever might unfold. This is the quality of presence we're born with, and it's the quality we can choose to bring to every interaction.
When I'm diving, I experience this at both the micro and macro levels. I can lose myself in the intricate patterns of a single coral polyp or expand into the vast blue that surrounds me. Similarly, in a coaching session or even a casual conversation, true presence allows us to zoom in to the subtle nuances of a shared moment or zoom out to feel our connection to something larger than ourselves.
This kind of presence creates a particular kind of safety. Just as my steady breathing underwater creates a calm space in which shy fish might venture closer, bringing full presence to an interaction creates a space where authenticity can emerge. When we're truly present – without agenda, without judgment, without the need to fix or change anything – we invite others to do the same.
But here's the challenge that confronts us all: How do we maintain this quality of presence in the ordinary everyday? How do we bring the same sense of wonder to our morning coffee that we bring to a coral reef? How do we stay open to being surprised and impressed by the people we see every day?
The answer, I'm discovering, lies in understanding that presence isn't something we achieve once and for all. It's a continuous invitation – to ourselves and to others. Each breath underwater reminds me to return to the present moment. Each bubble rising to the surface reminds me to let go of what doesn't serve this moment of connection.
When we manage this – when we're fully present with our presence in another's presence – something remarkable happens. The usual barriers of self-consciousness and separation dissolve. "I am bad" or "I am not worthy" can't exist in this space because these thoughts require duality – a comparison of good versus bad, worthy versus unworthy. In true presence, we move beyond such comparisons into a space of simple being.
We experience this oneness in many ways. Sometimes it's through a microscope, seeing the dance of cells. Sometimes it's through a telescope, losing ourselves in the vastness of space. Sometimes it's in our gardens, feeling life pulse through soil and seed. And sometimes – often – it's in the eyes of another human being, when we're truly present to their presence.
The real magic? This transcendent connection is available not just in the extraordinary moments, but in every ordinary interaction. It's there in the quick chat with a neighbor, in the exchange with a grocery clerk, in the quiet moment with a loved one. Each of these is an invitation to dive deep, to bring our full presence, to maintain that childlike sense of wonder that makes every moment fresh.
What might change in your daily interactions if you approached them with the same openness you'd bring to exploring an underwater world? How might your connections deepen if you allowed yourself to be truly present, truly curious, truly available to wonder? What treasures might you discover in the ordinary moments of your day?
Just as the sea reveals its wonders to those who approach it with openness and curiosity, each moment holds the potential for profound connection when we bring our full presence to it. As a coach, I create this space of wonder and presence in every session, every conversation, every interaction. The invitation is always there – to choose presence, to choose wonder, to choose connection, not just in the extraordinary moments, but in every ordinary breath.