The Moment Everything Slows Down

There’s a moment — before every goal, every decision, every word —
when time slows.
The noise fades.
And what’s left… is awareness.

Some call it flow.
I call it Presence.

It’s that invisible space between impulse and action.
The breath before you speak.
The stillness before you move.

I’ve seen it in athletes handling the puck.
In CEOs before they walk on stage.
And in parents who pause before they react.

The outcome always changes — not because of force,
but because of focus.

I used to think leadership was about energy — drive, direction, speed.
But I’ve learned it’s about regulation.
When you slow down, others settle.
When you listen, others reveal truth.
When you’re calm, you give permission for others to be too.

That’s the real performance.

Presence isn’t something you learn —
it’s what remains when the noise falls away.
It’s not mystical.
It’s biological.
When you breathe, your body tells your mind it’s safe to see clearly again.

So this week, try it.
Before the next big moment — the call, the meeting, the conversation —
pause for one breath longer than usual.
Feel your feet on the ground.
Let the noise fade.

That’s where Presence begins.

And once you’ve felt it —
you’ll recognise it everywhere.

Andrew.