The Power of Presence: How One Quiet Value Changes Everything
Discover how the simple act of being fully present can transform your relationships, strengthen connections, and bring calm to a distracted world.
The Hunter’s Moon above Lake Michigan, early on the next morning, steady and luminous: a lesson in being fully where you are, for as long as need be.
The Power of Presence: How One Quiet Value Changes Everything
Discover how the simple act of being fully present can transform your relationships, strengthen connections, and bring calm to a distracted world.
Why presence matters now:
We live in an age of constant motion and divided attention. Notifications, meetings, and headlines pull us in every direction, leaving us exhausted, scattered, and half-present in our own lives.
Yet, presence— the ability to fully show up in a single moment—is the antidote.
Sometimes the most meaningful gift we can offer isn’t advice, a solution, or even words.
It’s our presence—the quiet act of truly showing up.
Presence asks nothing great of us.
It’s the pause before we respond, the steady attention that says, I see you.
It’s the moment we resist distraction and share space—with a loved one, a colleague, a pet, or even ourselves.
Because in a world of noise, distraction, and performance, presence is how we honor what—and who—matters most.
Over the past week, I’ve been thinking about how presence transforms ordinary moments: watching my Papillon puppy, Percy, sleep at my feet while I work, sitting with family without rushing to the next task, and looking out at Lake Michigan under the full Hunter’s (Harvest) moon.
Each moment whispered the same reminder: life unfolds best when we’re not somewhere else in our minds.
Presence is how we turn connection into care. It’s the value that roots all others.
The Spirit of Presence
Presence isn’t limited to our interactions with people.
I feel it when I sit in a quiet church surrounded by others in prayer, when I walk beneath centuries-old oaks and hear them whisper, or when I listen to the rhythmic waves of Lake Michigan.
Presence is the stillness that reminds me I’m part of something much larger than myself.
It’s with me when I’m most loving, gentle, and centered on what nurtures and makes me whole.
When I’m present for others, I shape myself to what they seem to need—quiet, reminiscence, laughter, or simply a touch.
Presence is all of these moments: the sacred connection that joins us to life, to others, and to ourselves.
Even Percy has been teaching me this. Lately, he’s been content to rest between my feet on his puffy pillow, the Yellow Monster toy nearby.
His quiet companionship is a living lesson in presence—he doesn’t need words or action, just to trust that we’re together.
How to Practice Presence
Presence isn’t about being with others all the time—it’s about being where you are in each moment. It begins inside of us and radiates outward.
Here’s how you can practice presence in a way that steadies you at your core and strengthens every relationship you touch:
Be in the moment.
Before reacting, pause to notice what’s happening within and around you. That single breath creates space for clarity and choice.
Listen without wandering.
When a person speaks, focus entirely on their words and tone. Let your eyes, posture, and silence say, You matter.
Demonstrate understanding.
Offer feedback loops, sometimes called “I messages,” simple reflections like, “It sounds like you felt…” or “I hear that this was difficult.” They show respect and attention.
Follow through to the end of the story.
Don’t move on before the person feels heard. Presence often lives in the last few moments of a conversation, once a person trusts your quiet, loving intentions.
Ask questions that honor meaning.
Seek to understand what matters most to the other person, not just what they’re describing. Listen to hear what they might not be saying to hear the heart of their thoughts.
Give your full attention, briefly but completely.
Presence doesn’t always require long hours. Even a minute of undivided attention communicates deep respect.
Remember small things.
A favorite mug, a soft light at dusk, the sound of a friend’s voice, the names of your friend’s children—small moments remind you that meaning often hides in the ordinary. Presence begins there.
Let stillness count as doing.
Today’s life rewards motion. But quiet moments, such as reading, reflection, or watching the world outside your window, are where clarity and renewal take root.
End your day by returning to yourself.
Before sleep, recall a moment when you were fully present, when time seemed to stand still. You’ll begin to recognize that presence isn’t rare; it’s remembered.
A Closing Reflection
Presence is the quiet foundation beneath every value we hold dear.
Without it, trust, gratitude, and respect can’t take root because we’re too distracted to notice the moments that matter.
This week, pay attention to when you feel present, not perfect, not performing, just aware.
This moment might happen while cooking dinner, walking your dog, or listening to a colleague without planning your reply.
If being present brings you calm or clarity, share it with someone else.
Presence grows when it’s shared.
Presence doesn’t ask for more time.
It simply asks for you.
Your presence here means more than I can say. Thank you for being part of ValuesCrafting. Every time you read, reflect, and put these ideas into practice, you’re helping create a world where values guide actions—and that’s something worth sharing.
Making art has required a different kind of being fully present for me and can be almost too intense. Active presence, compared to quiet presence with a loved one including a pet. (I’m impressed a puppy like Percy has quiet time like that, what a good boy!)
Presence is everything. It’s experiential. Without it, life passes us by and we miss the depth of experience and wisdom that can only come from simply showing up.