Presence: The Practice of Ease

Weekly Presence Prompt

Carmen Mitzi Sinnott, actor, activist, teacher, writer

Last week I wrote about Communicating with Ease. This week, we dig down deeper into how we cultivate ease in ourselves, in our whole presence. This deep ease may read as a breezy confidence. Not a forced or muscular presence, but a fluid, free, presence. When I see that sense of ease, I see a person who puts others at ease; I see someone who invites connection and play; I see a person whose charm disarms us and we delight in being around them.

How do we cultivate that sense of ease in ourselves? What does the practice look like? We’ve talked about the need for rehearsal as communicators. We know that musicians and athletes practice for years to gain ease of play. But what about ease in our whole selves?

I have a theory. When I see people who embody this kind of grace, they are people who have moved from proving themselves to trusting themselves. And how do we cultivate trust in ourselves? We show up again and again to practice something. It doesn’t matter what it is. We must be diligent in our pursuit of fluency in something. The diligence and persistence is the key. We show up for ourselves. When that inner commitment is solid, our trust deepens and our presence flows.

We all know people like this. People who do their thing no matter what—dance, read, research, run, walk, meditate, prepare, write.

Note that I am not asking for self-focus but commitment to self! Our attention is on the practice.

We practice something regularly and with intentional focus, so that our bodies, minds, and spirits let go and dance. We work for that fluency that allows us to get past the point of thinking, past the furrowed brows, and into freedom. Having that sense of fluency and having that committed practice, radiates out into our every day presence.

This week, let’s see what it feels like to show up with diligence to practice one thing with deep focus every day. Just this week, let’s see what happens.

#carmenmitzisinnott #communicatingwithease #practice #jacobslichter