***Reading The Presence Process [The PP] +10minMed***
The ‘Attuning’ chapter to The PP is so rich… I keep wanting to write it up, but it feels like a big project! Some notes and quotes:
- Reaction = suppressing inner discomfort – triggered by unhealed trauma => ‘doing’
- Response = ‘being with’ inner discomfort => non-doing, undoing
- ‘This response draws on the wisdom we derive from past experience, whereas reactivity is driven by the unresolved trauma that’s embedded in us.’ p17
- Attention = what; Intent = why
- ‘Throughout the PP the word ’emotion’ is an abbreviation for ‘energy in motion” p16
- “A lifeline into present moment awareness resides within us all: our breath. There’s no way to breathe in the past or in the future. We can only breathe in the present. By becoming aware of our breathing, we activate a tool that facilitates withdrawal of our attention from both the past and the future. By focusing our attention and intent on connecting our breathing, we encourage an aspect of our awareness to remain anchored in the moment”
-Michael Brown, The Presence Process p24 - “The Presence Process is about showing up by growing up and growing up by showing up.” p25
I’m not quite conveying how rich this ‘Attuning’ chapter is.
I’m listening now…
What would you like to discuss?
I’d like to discuss this showing up business. What is it?
Mr Brown is referring to being present to all that is in you, without as it were ‘squirming’ away. You can link this to the Matt Kahn work around becoming ‘heart-centred’. When you can show up and be present to all the emotion in you, and ‘unravel the overstimulated nervous system’, and shower yourself with unconditional love, you will find yourself more heart-centred.
I’ve done some excellent work on non-squirming over the years, haven’t I?
Absolutely.
What can I do next, to become more present, more heart-centred?
You will enjoy the Presence Process, and find it valuable.
And today? We mentioned something constructive. We cleared some decks yesterday.
But not all of them…
It’s true, my desk…
Start there. Unresolved piles of papers are basically little emotions you have squirmed away from.
Ha! So true. It’s all very well being present to and facing my ‘self’; but it means little if I’ve got clumps of ‘stuff’ sitting about … because I can’t face them…
Clean and clear. Like a monastic. We can’t stress this enough. You will benefit from simplicity, order, observed routines. You asked earlier in the year about getting in the Aspie Zen Zone. Your first port of call is your environment. Attend to your ‘world’.
“Tidy your room” as JP says.
Yes, because that is how you become present to all that you are and represent in the world. Clean and clear. Simplify and order.
Like a monastic.
As your beloved friend E. says: “Sharpen your pencils for the new school year.” It’s going to be a busy term and you will want to get a good run up.
What about… pension week… advancing the business… all that stuff?
You have clients who need you to arrive fully ordered and prepared, truly present to them. Give them your best, and then the business will look after itself.
And the writing..?
You are not ready.
I feel relief when you say that. How do I become ready?
Clean and clear. Simplify and order. Your physical world should be so simple and ordered that someone else could step into it, and understand how it works.
So organise it all?
Clear and simplify it first. Don’t be organising the sands granules of the Sahara. Reduce, simplify…
Ok. I hear you.
I am reducing and simplifying