Presence and non-reactivity
What people are struggling with
Reacting automatically to thoughts, emotions, or external events
Feeling pulled into arguments, stress, or internal drama
Difficulty staying present during discomfort
Mistaking suppression for calm
Believing non-reactivity means not feeling
What’s actually happening
Reactivity is a nervous system response, not a personal failure.
Presence creates a pause between stimulus and response.
Non-reactivity allows feeling without escalation.
Suppression increases tension; presence reduces it.
Stability in the body supports presence in the mind.
Quick self-check
You react before realizing what’s happening.
Pausing changes the intensity of your response.
Staying present feels grounding rather than detached.
Awareness reduces the urge to act immediately.
If several apply, presence may reduce reactivity.
Ways of working with presence that help
Bring attention to physical sensations first.
Let experience unfold without commentary.
Pause before responding, even briefly.
Allow emotions without acting on them.
Presence works best when embodied.
Regulation before presence work
Start with grounding and nervous system safety.
Avoid presence practices when dissociated.
Stability allows non-reactivity to emerge naturally.
Presence should feel connected, not distant.
Common mistakes
Using presence to avoid emotions.
Forcing stillness or calm.
Judging reactivity instead of noticing it.
Trying to stay present constantly.
Ignoring the body while focusing on awareness.
When not to focus on presence
When emotionally overwhelmed.
When movement or grounding is needed first.
When rest would be more stabilizing.
Presence should reduce strain, not increase effort.
Simple daily rhythm
Morning: Brief pause before engaging the day.
Midday: Notice reactions without acting on them.
Evening: Let experiences pass without review.
Night: Rest without monitoring presence.
Non-reactivity grows through patience and repetition.
Related topics
Awareness and the observer
States of consciousness
Sense of self and identity
Nervous system regulation
