Hey there Reader,
We’re heading to the cricket this weekend, and it reminded me of something I’ve always found interesting. There are moments in big crowds where I feel unusually present and connected. Not hyped up, just very there.
At a game, it might be the collective gasp when someone almost takes a catch. Or the groan that rolls through the stadium when a wicket falls. Or that quiet hum between overs when everyone settles back into the rhythm of waiting (go on too long and the obligatory Mexican wave will start). It creates a feeling of connection that doesn’t rely on knowing anyone or saying a word.
Psychologists call this collective effervescence. It’s the lift that happens when a group of people focus on the same thing at the same time. And it often makes us feel more alive than when we’re on our own.
As Christmas approaches, I’ve been thinking about how different that can feel from time with family. Family gatherings come with history and patterns and roles we’ve held for decades. Sometimes they pull us straight out of presence and back into old stories before the moment has even begun.
So this year, I’m borrowing something from those group moments. Not the excitement, but the presence.
The ability to show up without carrying every past version of myself into the room. To pay attention to what is actually happening right now. To let people (including myself) be how they are today, not how they were ten years ago.
It feels like a nicer way to enter the season.
🔬Tiny experiment
Choose one moment this Christmas where you pause and simply notice what’s happening in front of you.
No analysing, no predicting, no revisiting the past. Just the small act of being here.
📝 Journal prompt
Where in your life do you naturally feel lifted by the presence of others? What helps you stay in the moment rather than in old stories?
💌 Reader reflections: Your experiments, your insights
If you find a moment of presence this Christmas, I’d love to hear what you noticed.
You can reply to this email. I may share reflections (anonymously if requested) in a future newsletter.
📚 Club corner
The Good Life Book Club is on its scheduled seasonal break. It will be back in February with Corey Keyes' Languishing.
👉 Click to join the book club here - You’ll get a reading guide, weekly prompts and end of month tiny experiment challenge to help you dive in plus first access to our paid membership tier launching in April.
🌱 Step into more
If you’d like support bringing more presence and less stories into your life, coaching offers a space to explore that.
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