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Presence, the simple act of being here and now, often slips away as we navigate a world filled with constant distractions. We find ourselves caught in mental loops, replaying the past or projecting into the future, missing the richness of the present moment. Tracy Brown, in Coacharya’s recent webinar, “Mindfulness and Beyond”, spoke to this very issue. Mindfulness, she explained, involves more than observing external events; it requires noticing our internal responses—thoughts, bodily sensations, and emotions—and understanding how they shape our reactions.
Following her insightful introduction, Tracy sparked immediate engagement by posing a simple yet profound question to the attendees: “What do you do to cultivate presence in your day-to-day life?” The chat box quickly filled with a diverse array of responses, reflecting the personal and varied nature of mindfulness practices. Participants shared techniques ranging from mindful breathing exercises and short meditation breaks. The lively exchange highlighted the collective desire to find moments of stillness and awareness amidst the daily rush, and provided a glimpse into the individual journeys of cultivating presence.
Defining Presence: Personal Perspectives
Following Tracy’s introduction and the engaging audience participation, panelists and coaches Priya Ramanarayan and Madhulika Tyagi offered their unique perspectives on presence. Priya emphasized equanimity, describing it as being “equipoised” and maintaining control over inner voices while remaining attuned to the client’s subtle cues. Madhulika, on the other hand, defined presence as simply “being available” to oneself and others, highlighting the importance of fully sharing space and time.
Tracy added her personal perspective, emphasizing that presence is not about achieving perfection, but rather a continuous practice. She spoke candidly about recognizing her own tendencies to ruminate on the past or anticipate the future, acknowledging these as natural survival responses. For Tracy, presence means gently redirecting her attention back to the present moment, anchoring herself through sensory awareness—feeling her feet, noticing her breath, or listening to the sounds of her environment. Ultimately, she defined presence as a continual, evolving practice, a journey rather than a destination.
Tracy then posed a crucial question: “How do you currently relate your emotions? What kind of relationship actually do you have with your emotions?” Madhulika, drawing from her medical background, described her approach as “diagnostic,” viewing emotions as information that prompts a quick internal assessment. Priya, on the other hand, emphasized awareness, expression, and acceptance, seeing emotions as guides to her reactions and advocating for labeling and befriending them. She highlighted that expressing emotions is key to tackling them, and also challenged the strict division of emotions into positive and negative categories, emphasizing acceptance and understanding of their varying energies.
Adding her own experience, Tracy shared a journey of transforming her relationship with emotions. Initially, she only embraced “positive” emotions, while suppressing those deemed “negative.” Through coaching and meditation, she learned to renegotiate this dynamic, gradually befriending her emotions. She acknowledged that some days are still challenging, but recognized that suppressing emotions only amplifies them. Echoing Madhulika’s sentiment, Tracy emphasized that emotions serve as messengers, prompting her to investigate what her body is trying to communicate and why it matters.
The Coach’s Core: Presence in Action
In a coaching session, presence cannot be taken lightly. It is the very foundation upon which transformation is built. To be truly present, a coach must first navigate the labyrinth of their own emotions, understanding that internal clarity creates external space for the client. This self-awareness allows the coach to step aside, setting aside personal biases and emotional baggage, creating a “clear space” where the client can explore their potential without interference. As Priya eloquently put it, genuine presence, fueled by emotional awareness and intention, helps discover the client’s emerging potential. It shifts the coach’s tone and behavior, creating vulnerability and open sharing. Moreover, it unveils habitual patterns and deep intentions, grounding the coach in humility. This process of emotional exploration becomes a journey of letting go – shedding biases, assumptions, and ego – allowing the coach to connect with their inner knowing and surrender to the unfolding process. This aligns directly with the ICF core competency of “maintains presence,” emphasizing the coach’s ability to be fully conscious and present with the client, employing a style that is open, flexible, grounded, and confident. Madhulika reinforced this by emphasizing the importance of “taking myself out” of the session, ensuring a clear and dedicated space for the client.
The conversation also highlighted that emotional awareness is not a one-time achievement, but a continuous practice. As Tracy shared, emotions are messengers, demanding attention and understanding. If a coach remains unaware of their own emotional landscape, they risk projecting their unresolved issues onto the client, or being overwhelmed by the client’s emotional intensity through mirror neurons. This is why “doing the work” is essential. The coach must learn to sit with their emotions, to understand their needs, and to create a healthy relationship with them. While perfection is unattainable, and emotions will inevitably fluctuate, the commitment to self-awareness allows the coach to maintain a grounded and centered presence, creating a safe and transformative space for the client.
The Ongoing Practice of Presence
The journey to cultivating presence is an ongoing exploration, a continuous refinement of our inner landscape that profoundly impacts our ability to connect with ourselves and others. As the webinar “Mindfulness and Beyond” demonstrated, presence is not a static state but a dynamic practice, essential for coaches seeking to create transformative spaces for their clients. Beyond the insights shared, the webinar also explored several other facets of presence, further enriching people’s understanding.
If you’re inspired to deepen your understanding and refine your coaching presence, Coacharya’s comprehensive coach training programs provide a structured and supportive environment for this very purpose. For coaches looking to advance their practice, Cindy Muthukarapan and Tracy Brown’s Somatic Coaching and Personal Mastery: Coacharya ICF Level 2 program delves even further into these essential practices. Step into a more effective coaching practice—register now.
(This blog post is based on the latest Coacharya webinar, Mindfulness,and Beyond, and aims to provide a general overview of the key takeaways. For more in-depth information, please refer to the original webinar recording.)
