DAY 113 - The Presence Process
I'm starting a book club
“Though we are addicted to instant gratification, we are seldom gratified because, although we are making everything possible now, we are seldom present to enjoy it now. The moment we attain our desire, our attention jumps out of the present and into planning our next acquisition. This creates a world that’s comfortable with living in debt, on borrowed time, and on somebody else’s energy. We no longer own our houses, cars, and clothes – the bank does. We have robbed ourselves of the satisfaction of organic accomplishment.
There’s no more “rite of passage,” only the fast lane. Young children want to be teenagers, teenagers want to be adults, and adults want to accomplish a lifetime’s work before turning thirty. We spend each moment running ahead of ourselves, believing there’s a destination we are supposed to arrive at that’s saturated with endless happiness, acknowledgement, ease, and luxury. We are forever running away from something and toward something – and because everyone is behaving in this manner, we accept it as normal. We mentally leapfrog over the eternal present moment in everything we do, ignoring the flow of life. The Presence Process – including the consequences inherent in completing it – moves at a different pace. This journey isn’t about getting something done “as quickly as possible.” It’s about process, not instant gratification.
The consequences we activate by completing this journey are made possible because of its gently unfolding integrative approach. By following the instructions carefully, taking one step at a time, being consistent and committed to completing the task at hand no matter what, we experience a rite of passage that reminds us of what “process” means. Realizing what “process” involves isn’t just a mental realization, but requires an integrated emotional, mental, and physical experience.
Awakening to the value of process work is rare in a world of instant gratification. It powerfully impacts the quality of our experience because life in the present is an ongoing organic process. Realizing the power within the rhythm of process work may not necessarily impact our ability to earn a living, but it enhances our ability to open ourselves to the heartbeat of life.”
- - Michael Brown, author of The Presence Process
If you’ve been coming to the Friday Artist Morning Circles, you’ve heard me talking about Michael Brown and his groundbreaking book The Presence Process.
This book is incredibly powerful. This is so much more than a book, it’s also a 10-week process that includes breathwork two times a day for the entire 10 weeks.
I can feel the transformational potential of this process and decided to start a small, but powerful accountability book club, to ensure I finish the entire 10-weeks.
We start May 15 as a group, but before we start everyone is to read the entire 325 page book on their own. This is not my idea, but actually the suggested reading style by the author. The first go is just for your mind to start to understand. No breathwork in the first reading. Then the second time around, which is to be done immediately afterwards, is reading plus all the breathwork.
It’s a big commitment and that’s why I am calling in support with this book club group.
Wish us luck!
PS: Here’s a short video of Michael Brown discussing the greatest challenge of this process.