Explore Insights on Choosing Presence & the Practice of Presence
Browse, reflect, and embrace the practice of presence!
Welcome to our collection of thought-provoking articles designed to inspire and support your journey towards daily calm and presence. Here, you’ll find deep reflections on Choosing Presence and the Practice of Presence, along with explorations of contemplative prayer, meditation, and the art of living in the moment.
Whether you’re seeking practical guidance, fresh perspectives, or a deeper understanding of presence in daily life, these articles offer valuable wisdom to help you cultivate stillness, awareness, and a stronger connection with God.
Choosing Presence: A Simple Guide for Newcomers (What It Is, How It Works, and How to Begin)
Choosing Presence: A Simple Guide for Newcomers
Choosing Presence is a Christian contemplative approach for returning to God’s peace in everyday life—through a short daily stillness practice and quick “return to presence” moments when stress rises. This guide explains the heart of the practice, offers ready-to-use ways to describe it, and gives you a gentle plan to start.
The 4-7-8 Breath
Practice of Presence Teaching
Discover how the breath serves as a sacred pathway from the frantic noise of the ego to the steady energy of God’s presence. Learn the 4-7-8 breathing method as a tool for "inner conditioning," helping you retrain your nervous system to release tension and step into a life of contemplative stillness.
The Power of a New Start
Practice of Presence Teaching
As we enter 2026, we explore how to shift from the "unobserved mind" into a vibrant inner life. Discover the impact of our 2025 gift to Illuman, find details for our upcoming Chicago retreat, and access free tools to help you sustain a rhythm of stillness throughout the year.
When “Present” Becomes Practice
Practice of Presence Teaching
Presence isn’t something to figure out or achieve—it’s something we practice, moment by moment. In Accessing Presence (Chapter 4 of Choosing Presence), Jim Heaney reminds us that stillness and conscious breath are the simple gateways to awakening. As we pause, breathe, and return to the here and now, we rediscover the peace and love that divine presence offers—always here, quietly waiting at the center of our being.
The Soul of All Spirituality
Practice of Presence Teaching
Many of us grow up with an image of God that feels distant, leaving us to navigate life on our own. But through stillness and presence, we discover that God is always near—at the very center of our being. In Meeting God in the Moment, we’re reminded that true spirituality is about relationship, and each encounter with the divine can transform how we live, listen, and love.