Presence stems from believing in and trusting yourself— your real, honest feelings, values, and abilities.

Where does presence come from

We probably were worrying what others would think of us, but believing we already knew what they thought; feeling powerless, and also consenting to that feeling; clinging to the outcome and attributing far too much importance to it instead of focusing on the process. These worries coalesce into a toxic cocktail of self- defeat. That’s how we got there.

Self Sabotage

Next time you’re faced with one of these tense moments, imagine approaching it with confidence and excitement instead of doubt and dread. Imagine feeling energized and at ease while you’re there, liberated from your fears about how others might be judging you. And imagine leaving it without regret, satisfied that you did your best, regardless of the measurable outcome.

Leaving without Regret, Doing your best

When we’re feeling brave and confident, our vocal pitch and amplitude are significantly more varied, allowing us to sound expressive and relaxed. When we fearfully hold back— activating the sympathetic nervous system’s fight-or-flight response— our vocal cords and diaphragms constrict, strangling our genuine enthusiasm. If you’ve ever had to sing through stage fright, you’ll know this feeling: the muscles that produce sound seize, causing your voice to come out thin and tight— nothing like what you are imagining in your head.

Exiting robotic mode 

Presence, as I mean it throughout these pages, is the state of being attuned to and able to comfortably express our true thoughts, feelings, values, and potential.

Being Comfortable is the key

Presence is confidence without arrogance.— Rohan, AustraliaPresence stems from believing and trusting your story— your feelings, beliefs, values, and abilities.

You are enough

Presence isn’t about pretending to be competent; it’s about believing in and revealing the abilities you truly have. It’s about shedding whatever is blocking you from expressing who you are. It’s about tricking yourself into accepting that you are indeed capable.

Bringing out my true ability

Sometimes you have to get out of the way of yourself so you can be yourself.

Don't be a roadblock for yourself

Focus less on the impression you’re making on others and more on the impression you’re making on yourself.

Don't seek validation from others for your self worth

Presence manifests as confidence without arrogance.

Confidence without Arrogance

The Synchronous Self Presence is when all your senses agree on one thing at the same time.— Majid, United Arab Emirates

When your body and mind are in tune

Self Improvement is one aspect of development. However we also owe to ourselves, doing justice to the gifts and skills that we already possess. This book gives ideas on being Present and fully expressing ourselves without any self doubt. 

MORE THAN HALF A MILLION COPIES SOLD: Learn the simple techniques you'll need to approach your biggest challenges with confidence.   Have you ever left a nerve-racking challenge and immediately wished for a do over? Maybe after a job interview, a performance, or a difficult conversation? The very moments that require us to be genuine and commanding can instead cause us to feel phony and powerless. Too often we approach our lives' biggest hurdles with dread, execute them with anxiety, and leave them with regret. By accessing our personal power, we can achieve "presence," the state in which we stop worrying about the impression we're making on others and instead adjust the impression we've been making on ourselves. As Harvard professor Amy Cuddy's revolutionary book reveals, we don't need to embark on a grand spiritual quest or complete an inner transformation to harness the power of presence. Instead, we need to nudge ourselves, moment by moment, by tweaking our body language, behavior, and mind-set in our day-to-day lives. Amy Cuddy has galvanized tens of millions of viewers around the world with her TED talk about "power poses." Now she presents the enthralling science underlying these and many other fascinating body-mind effects, and teaches us how to use simple techniques to liberate ourselves from fear in high-pressure moments, perform at our best, and connect with and empower others to do the same. Brilliantly researched, impassioned, and accessible, Presence is filled with stories of individuals who learned how to flourish during the stressful moments that once terrified them. Every reader will learn how to approach their biggest challenges with confidence instead of dread, and to leave them with satisfaction instead of regret. "Presence feels at once concrete and inspiring, simple but ambitious — above all, truly powerful." —New York Times Book Review

Presence

Garima Dighe