Presence, ego, and learning how to breathe above the surface
The Clean Mind Series
There are moments in healing when the waters are no longer turbulent, but not yet still. The edges of the lake feel smoother, calmer — and yet, ripples remain. Not because something is wrong, but because something is alive.
As we move further from the shore, we become more aware of what exists at the edges of consciousness: old selves, old wounds, old beliefs that no longer shout, but whisper. The further out we go, the quieter those whispers become — and paradoxically, the easier they are to notice.
This feels like the ripple of an ego wound. The lake is no longer storming. The surface is mostly calm. But subtle movement still travels across the water. That doesn’t mean we’re regressing; it means our awareness has expanded enough to feel what once went unnoticed.
What’s beautiful is this: once your head breaks the surface, you can finally see how far you’ve come.
Maybe presence is the active act of keeping your head above water — not swimming harder, not gripping the edges for safety, but trusting the water to hold you. Floating in the waters of abundance. Perhaps that is what connects us to our higher self.
Because whispers under water aren’t heard.
It’s only when there’s a pause — an ah-ha, a bubble rising, a shift in perspective — that we come up for air. And in that breath, we hear the language of the universe. Not as force, but as clarity. Not as demand, but as recognition.
Presence, then, isn’t about leaving the water behind. It’s about remembering that you float.
A Gentle Reflection
Where in your life are you still gripping the edge — and what might happen if you trusted yourself to float, even for a moment?
