The Power of Being Present in the Midst of Life’s Storms
By Lara J. Thomas
When Life Turns Upside Down
There are moments in life that shake us to our core — when loss, uncertainty, or change arrive without invitation. Our first instinct is often to resist, analyze, or plan our way out of discomfort. The mind starts spinning stories: “Why is this happening?” or “How will I fix it?”
Yet, in all our mental noise, we forget the simplest truth: the present moment is the only place where peace can be found.
Presence isn’t passive acceptance. It’s an act of sacred courage — the willingness to stay open and aware, even when everything feels uncertain.
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have.” — Eckhart Tolle
The Still Point Within the Storm
Presence is the quiet awareness beneath thought — the steady center of your being that remains untouched by chaos.
It doesn’t ask you to escape your experience; it invites you to inhabit it fully.
When you bring your attention into the Now, you stop arguing with reality and begin to partner with it.
From that place of stillness, clarity emerges naturally. You begin to see that life is not against you — life is working through you.
Every storm becomes a teacher, every challenge a sacred invitation to evolve.
Why Presence Heals
From a psychological and neurological perspective, presence is profoundly healing.
When we’re lost in worry or regret, the brain’s amygdala (the fear center) is activated, keeping us in a loop of stress. But when we ground awareness in the present — through conscious breathing or body awareness — we engage the parasympathetic nervous system, our natural calm-response.
This simple shift changes everything.
Presence rewires the brain for peace.
It lowers cortisol, improves emotional regulation, and allows us to respond with grace instead of reacting from fear.
“Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise or trouble. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” — Unknown
The Invitation of Every Challenge
Every major life transition — loss, endings, illness, or rebirth — carries a sacred message:
Wake up to who you truly are.
Challenges strip away illusion. They dismantle the false layers of identity built on roles, control, and certainty.
What remains is essence — the part of you that is eternal, wise, and unshakable.
Presence allows us to meet each experience not with fear, but with curiosity and compassion.
It whispers:
“Stay here. Breathe. This too belongs.”
Four Simple Practices to Return to Presence
Pause Before You React.
When emotions surge, take one conscious breath. Notice the feeling in your body. Name it gently: “Fear is here.” or “Sadness is here.” This simple act shifts you from identification to observation.
Anchor in the Senses.
Look around. Name five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear, two you can smell, and one you can taste. This grounds the mind back into the present moment.
Ask a Higher Question.
Instead of “Why me?”, try “What is this moment asking of me?”
Presence transforms suffering into awakening.
Breathe Light Into the Body.
Imagine each inhale drawing peace and divine intelligence into your cells. With each exhale, release resistance and soften into grace.
Presence Is Remembering Who You Are
At the heart of every storm, there is an eye of stillness — a sacred center where nothing real can be broken.
That is who you are.
Presence does not erase pain, but it reveals the consciousness vast enough to hold it.
When you remember presence, you remember your wholeness — the part of you that remains untouched, luminous, and free.
So when life shakes you, don’t rush to rebuild.
Sit in the rubble, breathe in the dust, and listen for the whisper beneath the noise.
“I am still here. I am whole. And I am becoming.”
When life shakes you and everything feels uncertain, don’t rush to rebuild. Instead, take a moment to sit in the rubble, breathe deeply, and allow yourself to fully experience the moment. Let the dust settle around you and listen for the quiet whisper beneath the noise. In that stillness, you are reminded that you are still here, you are whole, and you are continuously becoming.
Meet the Author - Lara J. Thomas
Lara J. Thomas is a Soul Alignment Coach, Intuitive Mentor, and Founder of Inspired Soul Sessions — a global movement dedicated to helping individuals awaken to their authentic truth, align with their purpose, and live from a place of love and higher consciousness. Her work blends psychology, neuroscience, and spiritual wisdom to guide profound transformation.
Website: www.inspiredsoulsessions.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaraJanisThomas/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspired_soul_sessions/
Note: The author, compiler and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party due to these words coming from the author’s own opinion based on their experiences. This account is based on the author’s own personal experience. We assume no responsibility for errors or omissions in these articles.
