Feeling a Bit on Autopilot? Read This
Hello there,
After diving into serenity in the previous newsletter, today I want to talk to you about something that hides right under our nose… presence.
It’s not a big or mystical word. It’s simply the ability to be here, in this moment, without running ten steps ahead or getting stuck behind. And even though it sounds simple, we all know how slippery it can be.
Think about it: How many times have you found yourself in the middle of something - A conversation, a walk, even a meal, while your mind was somewhere completely different?
Tasks, plans, worries… like background apps draining your mental battery.
But there are also those magical moments when we are fully present. Watching a sunset, smelling fresh coffee or a warm pastry, or when someone truly listens to us. Moments where something inside us softens, and we return to ourselves.
What does science say about presence?
Studies show that even a few minutes a day of awareness in the present moment can reduce stress, improve focus, and support clearer decision-making. It’s like cleaning the lens of your glasses - suddenly everything becomes sharper and brighter.
When we’re present, the parts of the brain associated with anxiety and overload quiet down, while the areas linked to calmness, regulation, and clarity become more active. And the body responds: the breath settles, the heart rate softens, and the nervous system feels less on “high alert - ready for battle.”
And what does Chinese medicine say about presence?
According to Chinese medicine, presence is connected to the meeting point between the Shen (spirit) of the heart and the Yi (thinking and intention) of the spleen. When the heart is calm and the thinking is centered - we’re here. But when thoughts, worries, or emotions become overwhelming, the Shen no longer “anchors,” and presence disperses.
Acupuncture invites the body into a gentle balance between the two: strengthening intention, calming the spirit, and allowing a return to a stable inner point. I often tell patients, “Presence isn’t effort - it’s space.” And acupuncture? It simply opens the door to that space.
But acupuncture isn’t the only solution. It’s just a shortcut, one that lowers the inner noise and creates a clearer path for practicing presence.
A small exercise for immediate presence
It takes maybe two minutes, and I recommend doing it at least once a day:
Look at two objects around you with full focus.
Listen for two different sounds in your environment and give them your attention.
Try to notice two different smells with full presence.
Swallow, or taste something small if it feels right at this moment.
Touch two different areas of your body or focus on the sensation of an object with your hand.
No analysing, no judging. Just feeling.
That’s it, that’s the whole thing. The more you practice this, the more present you’ll become in your life.
A small story from the clinic
Not long ago, a patient came in and told me he felt like he was “living on autopilot.” Work, kids, laundry, deadlines - everything blurring into one endless day.
After a few sessions he said, “Zohar, I’m still in the same level of overload… but I feel more present in my life, instead of constantly trying to catch up”
He described how, in the middle of his day, he now pauses for a moment, takes a breath, and feels himself returning to his own “frequency.”
Not magic - just presence. Small, but transformative.
Tip for the upcoming week
Choose one fixed moment in your day. Maybe your morning coffee or right before bed, and simply be there. No screen, no to-do lists. Just one small moment of “I’m here.”
Presence is like a muscle - you don’t need to use it forcefully, just consistently. And I invite you to begin today, right now, even for one minute.
Who knows? Maybe you’ll discover that within a small moment of presence, a great freedom is hiding.
Wishing you a week filled with gentle awareness, good breathing, and strengthening presence,