Choosing Presence: A Simple Guide for Newcomers (What It Is, How It Works, and How to Begin)
A welcoming overview of the Practice of Presence—written for people who are curious, cautious, or brand new.
Welcome: What Is Choosing Presence?
Choosing Presence is a Christian contemplative spirituality initiative built around a simple, repeatable Practice of Presence: a way of returning to God’s peace through stillness, prayerful awareness, and brief “return to presence” moments throughout the day.
At its core, Choosing Presence helps you interrupt the spiral of compulsive thoughts—worry about the future, regret about the past, and resistance to the present moment—and come home to the only place where God meets you: now.
What it’s Not
Not a technique for “emptying your mind.”
Not a shortcut to never feeling stress.
Not importing another religion—this is Christian contemplative prayer expressed through stillness, intention, and loving awareness.
Why People Practice It
The aim is not self-improvement through willpower. The aim is freedom: less reactivity and anxiety, more grounded peace, and a growing capacity to respond with love.
Choosing Presence emphasizes that peace is available now—through stillness and awareness—rather than something we chase in the future.
How the Practice Works
A short daily stillness practice (often described as prayerful attention, sometimes paired with gentle breathing).
Brief pauses during the day—especially when stress or anxiety rises—to ‘return’ to presence.
A simple check-in that strengthens awareness and accountability (the “three questions”).
Start your day with a Practice of Presence—a simple, Christian way to access stillness and reconnect with God’s Spirit within you. In this guided narration, you’ll learn a step-by-step morning practice (aiming over time for 15–20 minutes) that becomes a foundation you can return to throughout the day.
The Core Rhythm: Stillness → Breath → Return
1) Morning Stillness (your foundation)
Start each day with quiet, comfortable stillness. Sit upright in a chair or on a cushion. If it helps you center, place your right hand gently over your heart. Work up toward 15–20 minutes over time; start smaller if that’s what you can do consistently.
2) Breath Prayer (a simple anchor)
Use your breath as an anchor in the present. On each in-breath, pray a sacred word such as “Jesus” or “Yahweh.” Let the out-breath be a little longer to support calm. When your mind wanders (it will), gently return—again and again.
3) Return-to-Presence moments (micro-pauses)
Throughout the day, especially when stress rises, pause for three conscious breaths and return. These small moments train you to live from presence rather than from fear.
The Three Questions (a daily checkpoint)
One of the simplest tools is a short set of questions you can ask in an hourly check-in—or whenever you feel pulled away:
Am I present now?
How do I feel inside?
Do I have a sense of peace within?
Answer gently, without judging yourself. These questions aren’t meant to shame you—they’re meant to help you notice and return.
How to Explain Choosing Presence to Your Friends
15-second version
“Choosing Presence is a Christian practice that helps you come back to God’s peace in everyday life. It’s a way of pausing, becoming aware of God’s presence, and letting go of anxiety—one small ‘return’ at a time.”
30-second version
“Choosing Presence is a Christian contemplative approach built around ‘the Practice of Presence.’ You start with a short daily prayer/meditation, then use brief pauses throughout the day—especially when you’re stressed—to reconnect with God’s presence, calm your body, and respond with more freedom and love.”
One-sentence definition
“A Christian contemplative practice for noticing God’s presence and accessing peace—through daily stillness and quick ‘return to presence’ moments.”
Two Common Audiences (and how to speak to each)
For a secular friend (no Christian language)
“It’s a practical way to pause and reset in the middle of a busy day.”
“You do a short daily stillness practice—often with gentle breathing—and then take tiny ‘return to the present’ moments during the day.”
“The goal is less anxiety and more grounded, clear living.”
For a Christian friend unsure about ‘meditation’
“This is Christian contemplative prayer—not importing another religion.”
“It’s not about emptying your mind or adopting another faith; it’s about attentive, loving awareness of God.”
“Christianity has long included meditative prayer practices (for example, lectio divina and the Rosary).”
“One helpful anchor phrase is ‘practicing the presence of God’—a deeply Western Christian theme.”
A Gentle 7-Day Starter Plan
Day 1
Do 3 minutes of morning stillness. One breath. One sacred word. That’s enough.
Day 2
Increase to 5 minutes. Add hand-over-heart if it helps you center.
Day 3
Set one daily reminder (midday). When it goes off, take three conscious breaths.
Day 4
Add the three questions during your midday pause.
Day 5
Try two pauses today: midday + late afternoon.
Day 6
Add a 2-minute evening return: hand-over-heart, slow exhale, gratitude.
Day 7
Choose your “minimum daily practice” for next week (e.g., 5 minutes + 1 check-in).
A Few FAQs
What if I can’t stop thinking?
You’re normal. The practice isn’t stopping thoughts; it’s noticing them and returning to your anchor (breath, sacred word, hand-over-heart).
What if I don’t feel peaceful?
Peace is not forced. Stay gentle and consistent. Often the shift is subtle at first—more spaciousness, less urgency, more freedom to choose your response.
Do I have to do this perfectly?
No. The reps are the returns. Every return is the practice.
Where to Go Next (Official Choosing Presence Resources)
A Note on Roots: ‘Practicing the Presence of God’
Choosing Presence explicitly draws inspiration from Brother Lawrence’s classic Christian teaching on “practicing the presence of God.” In that tradition, the goal is a gentle, ongoing awareness of God in ordinary life—work, relationships, and small moments—not just during formal prayer.
Sources & Attribution
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.
