The Power of Now: A Journey to Inner Peace
Pro-tip:
Developing the skill to notice strong emotions and apply breath to them is the pathway to inner peace.
Register for the FREE S.O.S “The Journey to Inner Peace”>>>
In July of 2022, I had committed to my first psychedelic journey with psilocybin scheduled for that August. In my month of preparation, my remarkable guide, Ali Carmel recommended the book The Presence Process by Michael Brown. This would be foundational to getting ready for uncomfortable emotions that arise before and during the journey.
Crazy enough, I had this book on my shelf, unread, as I struggle to be an avid reader. If you haven’t read it yet, I’ve recapped it below for you and on April 3rd, 2025 at 5:30 PM, we’ll be using the concepts Michael shares to lead us in the S.O.S. Session “The Power of Now: A Journey to Inner Peace.” The session is free and includes an EFT session you won’t want to miss! Reminder: Members get the full course, EFT session mixed with music and a full guided meditation with music to play anytime.
How Michael Brown’s The Presence Process Unlocks True Freedom
In a world where distractions are the norm and our minds are constantly pulled between past regrets and future anxieties, the concept of presence may seem elusive—almost impossible. Yet, according to Michael Brown’s The Presence Process, presence is not just important; it’s the very foundation of emotional healing and spiritual awakening. Presence, in Brown’s view, is the key to breaking free from the unconscious loops that keep us trapped in suffering.
But what does it really mean to be present? And why is it so critical to our well-being? Let’s explore how presence, as outlined in The Presence Process, is the doorway to inner peace, emotional integration, and true personal freedom.
What Is Presence?
At its core, presence is awareness without resistance. It’s the ability to fully experience the present moment without trying to change it, escape it, or judge it. In The Presence Process, Brown emphasizes that our suffering comes not from the present itself, but from our refusal to be fully in it.
From childhood, we develop unconscious emotional patterns based on unresolved experiences. These patterns, or “emotional charges,” become deeply embedded in our subconscious and shape our adult reality. Without realizing it, we spend most of our lives reacting to the present through the lens of these old emotional imprints. Instead of experiencing life as it is, we filter it through unprocessed pain, repeating the same cycles over and over.
Presence, according to Brown, is the only way to break free from these cycles. When we bring conscious awareness to our emotions without trying to fix or suppress them, they naturally integrate, releasing their hold on us.
The Trap of the Mind: Why We Resist Presence
Our minds are wired to avoid discomfort. When something unpleasant arises—whether it’s fear, sadness, anger, or uncertainty—our instinct is to escape. We do this through distraction (scrolling endlessly on our phones), numbing (alcohol, food, workaholism), or intellectualizing (overanalyzing our feelings instead of actually feeling them).
But here’s the paradox: the more we resist our emotions, the stronger they become. Unprocessed emotions don’t disappear; they just get buried deeper, only to resurface in different ways—chronic anxiety, relationship conflicts, addictive behaviors, and even physical illness.
Brown teaches that presence is the only way to truly dissolve suffering. Instead of running from discomfort, he invites us to turn toward it, to meet our emotions with full awareness and allow them to move through us naturally. This is the essence of emotional integration: nothing needs to be “fixed” or “healed”—only felt fully.
The Presence Process: A Path to Integration
In The Presence Process, Brown provides a structured, step-by-step method for cultivating presence and integrating suppressed emotions. The process unfolds over 10 weeks, with daily breathing exercises, conscious awareness practices, and specific ways to engage with emotions as they arise.
A key element of Brown’s approach is conscious breathing. By maintaining a steady, uninterrupted breathing rhythm, we create space for emotions to surface without resistance. This bypasses the mind’s tendency to analyze or control, allowing us to experience feelings directly.
Brown also emphasizes awareness over reaction. Instead of seeking external solutions to inner discomfort, he encourages us to simply observe what arises in the present moment. This is what he calls embracing the messenger—recognizing that every uncomfortable emotion is trying to communicate something to us. By sitting with our emotions instead of suppressing them, we allow them to naturally integrate, losing their grip on our reality.
The Profound Benefits of Presence
When we commit to presence, something remarkable happens: life transforms. Here are some of the most profound benefits of practicing presence as Brown describes:
1. Emotional Freedom
Instead of being trapped in cycles of reactivity, presence allows us to respond to life with clarity and calmness. We no longer feel controlled by our triggers because we’ve integrated the emotions behind them.
2. Deepened Relationships
True connection can only happen in the present moment. When we’re fully present with others, we listen more deeply, love more fully, and engage more authentically.
3. Release of Fear and Anxiety
Most fear exists in the mind’s projections of the future. Presence anchors us in now, where fear has no real power.
4. A Sense of Wholeness
Through presence, we realize that nothing external can complete us because we are already whole. The search for external validation, success, or fulfillment dissolves when we recognize that everything we seek is already here.
How to Cultivate Presence in Daily Life
Integrating presence isn’t just about a structured practice—it’s about a shift in how we live. Here are some practical ways to embody presence every day:
• Breath Awareness: Throughout the day, pause to take a few deep, uninterrupted breaths. Notice how it brings you back into the moment.
• Feel, Don’t Analyze: When discomfort arises, resist the urge to intellectualize it. Instead, bring awareness to where it feels in your body and simply be with it.
• Limit Distractions: Create space for presence by reducing unnecessary stimulation—less screen time, more time in nature, intentional moments of stillness.
• Presence in Conversations: When speaking with others, focus completely on listening. Let go of planning your response and be fully engaged in the exchange.
• Gratitude for the Now: Rather than focusing on what’s missing, practice gratitude for what is—right now, in this moment.
Conclusion: Presence Is the Portal
Michael Brown’s The Presence Process teaches us a profound truth: presence is not just a practice—it is our natural state. We don’t need to chase enlightenment, healing, or wholeness; we simply need to remove the barriers that prevent us from being here now.
When we stop resisting life and fully meet each moment as it is, we open the door to something truly miraculous: freedom. Not the kind of freedom that comes from external success or circumstances, but the deep, unshakable freedom of knowing that we are already complete.
And that is the power of presence.
Join us LIVE for the next free S.O.S Soul Observation Session where we deepen our awareness into the NOW!
