How to Transform Essence into Presence

Dear Empowered Wayers:When you look into a baby’s eyes, you see the same essence that is in all of us.A baby doesn’t know any different, because she has not yet learned to create a persona or an ego. She is still very much the creation of Life.As she learns that the other people around her can satisfy her needs (hungry, tired, etc.), she begins to behave in ways that bring them to her.Crying, laughing, and smiling.As she grows older, the techniques are refined and the personality is born. Now, she is a person, and she sees herself distinct from those around her. Her ego begins to develop and a sense of separation is born.“I” am “me,” and “you” are “you.”But her essence is still very much alive. Whenever she plays make-believe or watches the snow fall, essence is closer to the surface. Her sense of wonder is when essence is visible. But then school becomes her world. Essence does not do well in school and is actually discouraged. To survive, she turns to her persona (behavioral skills and personality). As her persona and ego become stronger, she begins to believe that’s who she is, and her essence fades into the background.The process of being essence to creating a persona happens to every person. When you realize that there is more to life than what you perceive through your senses, you are ready to return to your essence.A comforting fact is that no matter how strong your persona and ego become, your essence will never change.Essence is infinite love. Your essence is infinite love.You Can Return to Essence in Any MomentMost people may never awaken to their essence.They believe whatever their persona, ego, and mind tells them to control the outside world. Through determination, stubbornness, and ignorance, the more control you exert, the less awareness you have.To discover essence, ego and personal control are no longer necessary.Instead, stillness and contemplation create a pathway back to essence. The thoughts are still there, but the attachment has loosened. The beliefs and judgments about self and others are weaker, allowing connection with essence.All it takes is a glimpse and the turning away from the outer to the inner world begins.Close your eyes now, feel the air become your breath and fill your lungs. Hold it for a moment then exhale slowly, as if you are exhaling through a straw.Your breath of awareness is the step back to essence.What Can Essence Teach You?You may be wondering why you should return to essence. Know that there are no “shoulds” in this process (that’s your judgmental mind stepping in). Instead of doing, essence teaches you to be-here-now.There is only this moment.Now is the only time you can experience essence. The past and future are creations of the persona, mind, and ego. Understanding this one concept will change your life.When you use your breath to step into the moment of now, all your worries, anxieties, and fears dissolve. Inside this heartbeat is the jewel of the present moment, pure and brilliant. Inside the jewel is your essence.As you breathe in your essence and look out at your life, you will see a different world. As you remain in the present moment, notice what you are feeling. It will always be the same.Peace. Joy. Contentment. Love.As you rest in the energies of essence, notice that your thoughts are no longer chaotic or unfocused. Instead, they are clear, present, and connected.You have come home to yourself.Tying It All TogetherRemember the baby who grew up? She may still be searching for that elusive connection to essence, but perhaps a person or random event will wake her up.She may even be reading this article right now.Whatever the event, person, or trigger, at some point, everyone looks at their life and wonders, “What is it all for?” That question has haunted people through centuries of searching for answers.It’s really very simple.When you connect to your essence once again, all of the destructive or limiting behavioral patterns dissolve because they are no longer needed. You have found your safe harbor and nothing can take it away from you.As you turn from within to live, essence becomes your presence.There is magic and mystery in this transformation. Guidance appears, whether a nudge from within or a random billboard or bumper sticker. Knowing increases and things begin to happen that support your journey.Your essence becomes your presence and you are home.Blessings,KathrynP.S. You can begin your meditation practice by downloading Insight Timer. It has more than 200,000 free guided meditations! Please follow me on the app - Kathryn Eriksen. Together we can all regain our essence. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit empoweredway.substack.com