Whether you’re taking a LAMDA exam, entrance interview, or looking to enhance your communication skills, cultivating presence is key.
What is Presence?
Presence entails fully inhabiting the present moment. When you communicate from this state, you exude magnetism, captivating your audience with every word.
How to be Present
Being present doesn’t involve dwelling on the past or fretting about the future. It requires courage to let go and surrender, as our minds tend to seek order and predictability.
Regular practice of improvisation games, relaxation techniques, and breathing exercises are key in developing presence.
Here’s a meditation-based exercise which you can try today to experience the present moment:
- Find a comfortable chair and sit upright, placing your hands on your thighs. Make sure your back is supported.
- Close your eyes and take three deep breaths, allowing yourself to relax more with each exhale.
- Shift your awareness to your left foot. Become aware of sensation flowing from the tips of your toes, filling up the entire foot. Let go of any tension, allowing it to melt away and fall into the ground.
- Now, bring your attention to your lower left leg. Feel the awareness moving from your ankle up to your knee, releasing any tension.
- Continue by shifting your focus to your left thigh. Allow your awareness to flow from your left knee all the way up to your left hip, releasing any remaining tension.
- Next, expand your awareness to encompass your entire left leg and foot. Scan this area for any remaining areas of tension, and as you identify them, let them dissolve and drift away, falling down to the ground.
- Now, move on to your right leg, repeating the same process. Bring your attention to your right foot, then your lower right leg, and finally your right thigh. Release any tension you encounter, letting it fade away and finally expand your awareness to encompass your entire right leg and foot.
- Once you’ve completed both legs, progressively relax each section of your body. Start with your hips, then move to your torso, chest, lower back, and upper back. Take your time and allow each part to unwind and let go of any tightness.
- Shift your focus to your left hand, lower left arm, and upper left arm. Be aware of the sensations as you bring your attention to your entire left arm and hand. Release any remaining tension in this area.
- Repeat step 9 for your right hand and arm, shoulders, neck, head, jaw, and eyes. Gradually ease any tension you find, allowing your awareness to create a deep sense of relaxation.
- Once you have relaxed your entire body, become fully aware of your whole being, from your feet to the top of your head. Scan your body once more, gently releasing any remnants of tension down into the ground.
- When you’re ready, open your eyes and embrace the present moment.
Practice this exercise regularly to embody a present state of being. You will observe a noticeable difference in how people treat you when you are in this state, it’s quite remarkable!
By communicating from presence, you will speak authentically and leave a powerful impact on your audience.
If you or your child would like to learn how to speak from a state of presence, Get in touch to find out how I can help you or your child master this important lifelong skill.
