Answering the Call to Presence
Letting Go of Resistance and Welcoming Peace
Answering the Call to Presence
There are days when I find myself resisting even the simplest practices that I know bring me peace. I set hourly reminders on my phone to take three conscious breaths and ask myself the three questions—Am I present now? How do I feel inside? Do I have a sense of peace within? Yet there are times I silence the reminder before even looking at it. It’s humbling to notice how quickly I can slip back into distraction, convincing myself that I’m “too busy” to breathe.
Resistance often feels like control. I catch myself trying to manage my day, my emotions, even my spirituality. But control is a form of fear and anxiety, a refusal to surrender to the moment as it is. The practice of presence gently exposes that illusion. When I stop and take those three breaths, I see how much of my tension comes from wanting things to be different, from fighting life instead of receiving it.
Over time I finally began paying attention to those reminders. Today, I often put down my phone, close my eyes, and take some deep breaths. Through this simple act, I feel a shift in my energy. It’s like a weight sliding off my chest. Although nothing around me is different, something inside me has changed. The resistance dissolves, and in its place there is a greater stillness and clarity.
This is the invitation of presence. It doesn’t erase our problems. It transforms our relationship to them. Every time we return to presence, we move from resistance to acceptance, from tension to trust. Peace is never somewhere else. It’s waiting, right here, beneath the stubbornness of our resistance.
Take the Next Steps in Presence
Ready to go deeper? These journaling questions will help you reflect on Chapter 6 of Choosing Presence and practice letting go of resistance to live more fully in peace.
Resistance – Enroll in Awakening to Presence and learn how noticing and releasing resistance opens the heart to the stillness of God’s presence.
Brian Mueller – Poet, Community Organizer, and Spiritual Guide
Brian Mueller is a poet and community organizer based in Dayton, Ohio. He serves as Director of Education & Engagement for ChoosingPresence.org and is an active member of the Ohio Chapter of Illuman, where he co-leads writing retreats that support men’s spiritual journeys. As a writer, Brian is known for his candid, accessible poetry, with works including Cock‑A‑Doodle‑Doo: 100 Morning Haiku, the Poem of the Day series, and the Bull Series. Inspired by poets like Rumi and Mary Oliver, he believes everyone carries the voice of a poet within.
