Why Presence Brings More Power

We often associate power with force. We might think of decisiveness, dominance, or the charismatic ability to influence.

But some of the most quietly powerful people I know have something else entirely: presence.

True presence is magnetic. It’s the quality that makes someone feel grounded, engaged, and unmistakably here. When someone is present, you feel it. They listen differently. They respond with intention. They don’t need to raise their voice or oversell their ideas because their clarity and calm create a natural gravity.

In a world that rewards speed, volume, and performance, presence might seem subtle, or even passive.

But make no mistake: presence is power.

April leads us through a Vinyasa flow during our New Mexico retreat in April 2025.

Presence is Clarity in Motion

When we are fully present, our minds aren’t spinning with our next meeting, our last mistake, or the dozen Slack messages waiting for us. Instead, we are listening with intent, conscious of our breath, and slower in our response. We’re tuned in to this conversation, this decision, this moment.

That clarity doesn’t just feel better, it leads to stronger bonds and more attuned decision making. We listen more deeply, catch subtle cues, and respond with discernment instead of defaulting to reaction.

Presence helps us act from intention, rather than impulse. And that alone is a powerful shift.

Presence Builds Trust

Whether you’re leading a team, negotiating a deal, or simply having coffee with a friend, your presence tells people everything they need to know about how much they matter to you.

We’ve all had the experience of talking to someone who’s clearly somewhere else. Maybe they are glancing at their phone, nodding without listening, or formulating their reply while we’re still mid-sentence. This kind of calculating response leaves us feeling unseen, unheard, and unimportant.

Now think of the opposite: someone who gives you their full attention. You feel respected. Safe. Valued. The connection feels slow, intentional, and important. That’s the foundation of trust. Trust is the foundation of influence. But not in the way you might think.

As retreat hosts and yoga teachers, we know that much of what we’re offering may influence others, but it’s not necessarily the goal. It’s a by-product of putting in the work ourselves. We study the material, then translate it to our students with the intention to teach them something.

Having integrity in that work, the delivery, and our presence is what allows space for transformation and growth.

Busyness Isn’t Power - It’s a Distraction

Presence isn’t about doing less, necessarily. It’s about doing one thing at a time, on purpose. And that’s increasingly rare.

We live in a culture that prizes productivity, multitasking, and availability. But divided attention is diluted energy. When we try to be everywhere, we end up nowhere fully. As a result, our work, relationships, and wellbeing suffer for it.

Power doesn’t come from how much we do. It comes from how deeply we engage with what we’re doing.

It’s easy to confuse motion with progress. In our modern culture, being busy has become a kind of social currency. We might see it as proof that we’re important, needed, in demand. Our calendars are packed, our notifications endless, and we wear our exhaustion like a badge of honor.

But let’s be honest: much of our busyness is noise, not signal. It’s activity without depth. It’s jumping from one thing to the next without ever really landing anywhere. It leaves us drained, scattered, and strangely disconnected - from others, from our purpose, and even from ourselves.

Personal power comes from discernment, not distraction. It comes from the ability to slow down enough to choose where your energy goes, rather than letting urgency pull you in a hundred directions.

When we’re constantly multitasking or “context-switching,” we compromise the quality of everything we touch. We skim emails, half-listen in conversations, and show up to important moments with only a fraction of our presence. While it may feel productive in the moment, over time it erodes trust and clarity, both with ourselves and with others.

Presence is about depth over volume. It’s knowing that doing fewer things well often leads to more meaningful interactions than doing everything fast and fragmented. It’s about reclaiming your attention as a form of leadership. One that says: I’m here. I’m focused. And I care enough to be fully engaged.

True power doesn’t come from how much you take on. It comes from how intentionally you show up to what actually matters.

Keirst provides hands-on assists during a workshop at our New Mexico retreat in April 2025.

How to Practice Presence (Even When Life Is Full)

You don’t need to completely overhaul your life to become more present, but you do need to be intentional. Presence is less about perfection and more about returning to yourself, again and again, in small, doable ways.

Here are a few practices to try right now, even in the midst of a busy day:

• Pause before you speak. One deep breath can change the tone of a conversation. It creates space between stimulus and response, and gives you a moment to choose how you want to show up.

• Put your phone away during human moments. A face-down phone sends a clear signal: you matter more than this screen. Give the people in front of you your full attention, even for a few minutes.

• Use your body as an anchor. Drop into your breath. Feel your feet on the floor. Roll your shoulders back. These physical cues bring your awareness out of your head and into the present.

• Protect space for single-tasking. Even 20 minutes of uninterrupted focus can train your brain to stop chasing distractions. Close the tabs. Mute the noise. Let yourself fully land on one thing.

• Create a "transition ritual." Before jumping from one task to the next, pause… even briefly, to mark the shift. It helps your mind reset and re-engage.

Presence is a skill. That skill gets stronger the more you practice. And if you’re someone who thrives with structure, encouragement, and community… we’ve already created something for you.

Join Us for a Free Monthly Challenge

Every month, we host a free, no-pressure challenge designed to help you build habits like presence, clarity, and intentional focus, alongside a community of people doing the same. Whether it's setting mindful boundaries, carving out space for deep breaths, or simply practicing stillness in everyday life, these challenges are your chance to start small and feel supported.

Ready to practice presence with us?
Join the next free challenge here → Free Monthly Challenges

Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is stop, breathe, and fully arrive where you already are.

The Quiet Strength of Being Fully Here

Presence isn’t flashy. It’s not loud. But it IS powerful. It changes how people feel around you. It changes how you lead, how you relate, and how you make decisions.

When you’re present, people remember. They trust you. They follow you. And maybe most importantly…you trust yourself more too.

So today, try this: in just one interaction, be fully there. Notice what shifts. That’s presence. That’s power.