The Presence Process
It’s a book by Michael Brown—but it’s so much more than just a book. It’s a process designed to help you integrate leftover emotions from the past. In this blog, I’ll explore how this process works, how I discovered it, and share some of the experiences I’ve had as I’ve begun my journey with it.
What Is the Presence Process?
This process is a journey through unintegrated emotions that we’ve been carrying with us, often without realizing how they affect our everyday lives. In The Presence Process, Michael Brown talks about seven-year cycles and explains that everything we experience is a manifestation of past emotions we haven’t yet integrated.
The core idea is that when something triggers us today, it’s actually a past, unintegrated emotion trying to get our attention so we can face it and heal it. The process itself lasts 10 weeks, though there’s some recommended pre-work and post-work. Michael advises reading the book once through before starting the process.
When you begin, you’ll sit quietly for 15 minutes twice a day, focusing on your breathing. As someone who enjoys meditation, I’ve long aimed to build a daily practice—but I’ve never consistently meditated twice a day until now. So far, this part has been the easiest for me.
Each week includes a different activating statement designed to open you to that week’s experiences. There are a couple of versions of the book, so activating statements may vary slightly. My statement this week is: “I compassionately embrace my innocence.” The most important part of the process is paying attention.
- What are you feeling in your body?
- What emotions are coming up?
- What are you dreaming about?
- What triggers you?
How I Found the Presence Process
I first heard about The Presence Process from a friend. She mentioned that Michael Brown doesn’t promote the book, trusting that it will find those who need it. He even advises against encouraging others to try the process—it’s meant to be an individual journey for those who feel called to it.
That said, I’ve found it helpful to work through the process with a friend. Having someone to talk to about triggers and emotions when they arise helps me stay grounded. It’s valuable to have someone who understands the process and can remind me that whatever comes up, the answer is within me. It’s never about the other person—they are just a messenger, as Michael would say.
I first read the book in December and formally began the process on February 17.
My Experience So Far
My experience with the process has been different from week to week. It’s fascinating to notice how seemingly unrelated triggers can carry a common emotional theme.
For most of my life, I’ve tended to push emotions deep down and avoid dealing with them. This process challenges me to sit with those feelings instead of suppressing them. It asks me to allow and integrate these emotions. I’m not sure I fully understand the concept of integration yet, but I’ve noticed a melting of the intensity of my emotional responses, as I work with them. There’s a growing sense of understanding about patterns that have shaped my life, even when they’ve appeared symbolically or subconsciously.
Final Thoughts
If you feel called to The Presence Process, it’s worth exploring. If you don’t feel drawn to it, that’s okay too. Your journey is your own. There are countless ways to heal—some are right for us, while others are meant for different paths.
I’m grateful for the variety of healing modalities that have supported me along my journey. The Presence Process is another teacher, helping me become a better version of myself each day. And ultimately, that’s my goal—to be just a little bit better today than I was yesterday.
Stacy Crep 