Key Terms

Acceptance refers to the practice of welcoming what is happening in the present moment without resistance. Acceptance, along with nonresistance and appreciation, is essential for experiencing God’s peace within us. By accepting the present reality and practicing presence, individuals can stop allowing problems and negative emotions to take over, thereby opening the space for God’s peace to flow through them.

As a biological function, breath is the source of life. As a spiritual function, breath is the source of spiritual life, our connection with God’s energy. Breath is spirit. Assigning an intention to breath takes it from a biological experience to a spiritual one.

Compulsive negative thinking is a persistent and automatic pattern of detrimental thoughts that dominate a person's mind. This type of thinking is often involuntary and can lead to a cycle of pessimism, anxiety, and stress. It involves a constant focus on potential problems, perceived threats, and personal shortcomings, which can hinder one's ability to live in the present moment and experience peace and contentment.

Consciousness is a state of awareness where one is fully present in the moment, free from the distractions of the unconscious mind and ego. In this state, a person is deeply attuned to the present, aware of their thoughts and feelings without being controlled by them. Consciousness in this sense is the opposite of being driven by compulsive thoughts or anxiety. It allows for a deeper connection with God’s spiritual energy and leads to inner peace and clarity.

Conscious breathing refers to the intentional act of focusing on one’s breath to bring awareness to the present moment and connect with God’s Spirit. It involves taking slow, deliberate breaths, often accompanied by a spiritual intention, to quiet the mind, interrupt negative thoughts, and access the inner stillness where divine presence resides. This practice serves as a gateway to experiencing peace and divine energy throughout the day.

Courage refers to the inner strength that allows us to face change and the accompanying challenges by reconnecting with our deepest selves. It’s the ability to return to the present moment despite fears or habitual distractions, drawing on our resilience and the confidence arising from a closer connection with God. This kind of courage only comes from “taking to heart” a true sense of divine presence, thus empowering us to choose peace over fear and anxiety.

Dis-identifying refers to the process of detaching oneself from the ego and the negative, compulsive thoughts that the ego generates. This involves recognizing that these thoughts and emotions are not the true self so one can shift from an unconscious ego-driven state to a conscious state of presence. This shift allows for a deeper connection with God’s peace and spiritual energy within the present moment.

Ego is the part of our personality that feeds on the emotions and thoughts of the unconscious mind; that is, the thoughts, emotions, memories, desires, and motivations that lie outside of our awareness. In an unconscious state, our ego is insecure and fear-filled.

Emotions, particularly negative ones like fear, arise from our unconscious mind. These emotions fuel compulsive thinking, pulling us away from the present moment and leading to anxiety and inner turmoil. Fear is an example of a powerful emotion that often revolves around the potential for loss, whether real or imagined, and it keeps us trapped in a state of insecurity and ego-driven behavior. Through presence, we can break free from the cycle of negative emotions and experience God’s peace.

Faith is not simply intellectual belief, but rather a lived experience of God's spiritual energy within us. Through our faith, we learn to access the divine by means of our stillness and attentiveness to the present moment. We undergo a shift from believing in God to knowing God through direct experience.

Fear is a common emotion rooted in the ego and the unconscious mind. It arises from concerns about losing something, whether real or imagined, and is often tied to anxiety about the future or regrets about the past. Fear is a significant obstacle to experiencing inner peace because it pulls individuals out of the present moment, where God’s peace and presence can be found. Overcoming fear involves shifting awareness from the unconscious mind, to a conscious state of presence, where one can experience God’s love and peace.

Forgiveness is about receiving the courage to face our flaws and listening for God’s forgiveness, which, in turn, enables us to forgive ourselves and others.

God’s spiritual energy is the living presence of the Divine within us that brings peace, clarity, and connection when we become still and fully present.

Gossip is a form of negative thinking expressed outwardly. It involves speaking about others, often focusing on their faults or missteps, as a way to elevate oneself, seek attention, or feel included. Gossip reflects inner insecurities and disrupts both inner peace and connections with others, acting as a barrier to practicing presence.

Heart refers to the core of one’s being, the center of spiritual life where inner transformation takes place - the mystical mind. The heart is not only an emotional center but a place of deep spiritual connection, where God’s peace and love can be fully experienced, leading to inner freedom and wholeness.

Heartfelt practice refers to the act of engaging with life and spirit through the stillness and awareness found in the heart, rather than the noise and distractions of the ego-driven mind. It requires we connect with our vibrant inner life, which becomes accessible when we bring ourselves fully into the present moment. This practice emphasizes humility, love, and an intimate, personal relationship with God, fostering a sense of inner peace, freedom, and authenticity.

Humility is an honest and compassionate view of ourselves, acknowledging both our strengths and limitations without ego or pretense. This humility connects us deeply to others, fostering mutual respect and understanding. It also opens us to divine guidance, allowing us to experience God’s presence and move beyond self-centered thinking into a more authentic and peaceful relationship with ourselves, with others, and with God.

Inner Conditioning (what Brother Lawrence refers to as “practicing the presence”) builds our spiritual foundation. When we practice presence consistently enough throughout the day—working up to three conscious breaths or more every hour—we become aware of how we feel inside. And then, when we sense ourselves slipping into unconsciousness, we know the way back to reality.

With intention we focus on the sacred purpose of the practice of presence means connecting with God’s Spirit within us.

Kingdom in the context of Choosing Presence refers to the spiritual realm or state of being where God’s presence and peace are fully realized and experienced. It is not a physical place, but rather a state of inner peace and connectedness with God that can be accessed through the practice of presence. Keep in mind Jesus’ teachings often describe the kingdom of God as something that can be experienced in the here and now through a deep, personal relationship with God, characterized by stillness, awareness, and acceptance of the present moment.

In Western Christianity, Lectio Divina (Latin for "Divine Reading") is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's word.

Traditionally, Lectio Divina has four separate steps: read; meditate; pray; contemplate. First a passage of Scripture is read, then its meaning is reflected upon. This is followed by prayer and contemplation on the Word of God.*

*Read more about Lectio Divina at Wikipedia.org.

Meditation is the focused practice of connecting with God’s spiritual energy. It involves mindful breathing and intentional stillness, allowing the practitioner to quiet the inner dialogue and create a space where God’s presence can be experienced. Meditation, in this context, is not just a relaxation technique but a spiritual discipline aimed at fostering a deeper connection with the divine, reducing inner negativity, and cultivating inner peace and presence.

Numinous refers to having a strong religious or spiritual quality, suggesting the presence of a divine power. It is often used to describe experiences that evoke a sense of awe and mystery, transcending the ordinary and pointing to something much greater than oneself. The concept is closely associated with the idea of the sublime and can be used to describe encounters with art, nature, or the divine that are awe-inspiring. The numinous happens when we are consistently present with intention.

Peace is a profound sense of calm and inner stability that comes from embracing stillness and living fully in the present moment. This peace is not simply the absence of noise or activity; it’s a deeper state of being where negative, compulsive thoughts no longer control us. When we are at peace, we connect authentically with ourselves and with God.

Practice consists of the intentional actions or exercises that are repeated to cultivate presence and deepen one’s spiritual connection with God. Practice involves daily meditation, mindful breathing, and other rituals that help quiet the mind, reduce negative thoughts, and bring a person into the present moment. Regular practice is essential for spiritual growth and allows individuals to experience God’s peace and spiritual energy more fully. The emphasis is on the idea that practice is not just about the actions themselves, but about the transformative effect they have over time, shaping a person’s inner life and spiritual experience.

Presence is an inner joy and knowing that God’s Spirit is here now. When we practice accessing that inner joy and knowing—that is, when we practice presence—we become still, and the negative dialogue that is the cause of our inner fears and conflicts stops taking us over through unhealthy emotions and reactions. In presence we can feel stability and security in this moment. No longer is our body in one place and our mind somewhere else, causing us inner chaos, because we know we are not alone.

Resistance is the negative energy we use to deny or avoid reality, causing stress and anxiety. It manifests in judgments, resentments, and inaction, preventing us from accepting the present moment and leading to emotional and physical discomfort. Overcoming resistance requires embracing reality through the practice of presence.

Spirit is the force within a person that is believed to give the body life, energy and power.

Spiritual energy refers to the divine presence of God within us. It provides a source of peace, strength, and transformation. This energy is accessed through stillness and the practice of presence, connecting us to a much deeper reality beyond our ego-driven thoughts. It’s the sustaining force that grounds us in the present moment, enabling us to experience clarity, calm, and a sense of unity with God and others.

A spiritual practice is an intentional and purposeful action that opens us to receive God’s strength, and that enables us to achieve what we couldn’t manage on our own. Presence is first and foremost a spiritual practice. The more we practice being present, the more we’ll gain confidence in its power to transform our life.

Stillness is a quiet state of mind and spirit that opens the path to recognizing and experiencing the presence of God.

Transformation refers to the deep inner change that occurs when individuals consistently practice presence. It involves moving from a state of anxiety, fear, and ego-driven reactions to one of peace, clarity, and spiritual freedom. Through regular stillness and mindfulness, a person’s inner life becomes more aligned with God’s presence, allowing for a shift in thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This transformation is gradual but lasting, as the practice of presence opens the heart and mind to divine peace, leading to a more harmonious and spiritually grounded existence.

Originating with our ego’s negative energy, which is in opposition to what is real, the unconscious causes us to live through memory or anticipation and compulsively think or obsess about something that did happen or something that might happen. It is a false reality and at the heart of our anxieties and fears.

The eternal location of God’s Spirit within each of us; we need only access it to experience its power. The existence of our vibrant inner life is permanent—God’s Spirit is always with us—but the prominence of our vibrant inner life in our everyday environment depends on the priority we assign to it and how often we access it and become aware of our connection with God’s spiritual energy within us.

Wholeness can be understood as a state of inner balance and completeness achieved through the practice of presence. It involves aligning the mind, body, and spirit with God’s presence, thereby reducing inner negativity, anxiety, and compulsive thinking. Wholeness emerges when a person experiences peace, stability, and connection with their inner life and God’s spiritual energy, resulting in a more integrated and harmonious state of being.