The Power of Presence: How Being in the Moment Boosts Happiness, Lowers Stress & Helps You Manifest

Learning how to be present is one of the most powerful ways to improve your mental health, reduce stress, and feel more fulfilled in a world that is constantly bombarding you with distractions and bad news. Whether you call it mindfulness, grounding, or just being in the moment, presence helps you enjoy life more, focus better, and handle challenges with a clearer mind. In this post, I’ll break down how practicing presence can boost your happiness, productivity, gratitude—and even help you manifest what you want.

Let’s start with presence and happiness. “Presence” isn’t exactly something most people consider in their formula for happiness, and yet, it is a key ingredient.

A Harvard study found that people spend almost half their time (47%) thinking about something other than what they’re doing. This habit is strongly linked to feeling unhappy.

I love Matthew A Killingsworth & Daniel T Gilbert’s famous article “A Wandering Mind is an Unhappy Mind” where the research shows that people were more unhappy when their minds are wondering than when they were not.

Basically, when you are not in the present moment, your happiness points go down ☹ I have a previous post on this “Science Agrees: Being in the Present Moment is a strong Predictor for Happiness”

Less Stress, More Calm

Being present doesn’t just make you happy — it helps your body chill out too. Studies show mindfulness practices (aka presence) can lower cortisol (your stress hormone) by around 20%. Regular mindfulness makes people 83% more likely to say their stress feels manageable.

It’s important to note you’re not pushing away stress or magically “ctrl+alt+deleting” it, you’re handling it better because you’re more grounded and aware in the moment. It’s like switching from reacting on autopilot to responding with intention.

You Get More Done (and Do It Better)

Multitasking is a productivity myth (gasp - I know!). When your brain is split between five things, everything takes longer and quality drops. Research shows multitasking can lower productivity by up to 40%. Talk about a plot twist.

But when you’re present, you're fully focused. You finish tasks faster, make fewer mistakes, and maybe even enjoy what you're doing. Whether you’re working, creating, or just having a conversation—presence makes a difference.

Ritual Is a Practice of Presence

One beautiful way to practice presence is through ritual. And no, it doesn’t have to be some grand spiritual thing. It can be as simple as lighting a candle before you start your day, making tea slowly and intentionally, or journaling for five minutes every night.

You know that personally I’m a Cacao girl, but let’s say you make coffee each morning. Instead instead of rushing through it, you pause. You grind the beans, listen to the water boil, feel the warmth of the mug in your hands. That becomes a ritual. And in that ritual, you’re fully there. That kind of moment sets the tone for your day—it grounds you, calms you, and reminds you that you're alive. That’s presence in action.

Gratitude and Fulfillment Start Here

You don’t need a big win or life change to feel fulfilled. Sometimes, all it takes is noticing what’s already good. Presence helps you see the little things—like how your coffee smells, the way your friend laughs, or how nice it feels to stretch after sitting too long.

These small moments of awareness build a sense of gratitude, which over time leads to a deeper feeling of contentment and joy.

Presence Helps You Manifest What You Want

If you’re into manifestation, here’s a big one: presence helps you align with your goals. You can’t attract what you want if your mind is stuck in worry or doubt.

Say you’re trying to manifest a new job. If you show up every day with intention, confidence, and awareness, you’re way more likely to spot opportunities, follow through, and make things happen. Presence helps you show up like the version of you who already has what they want—and that’s magnetic. Check out my post on magnetic desire, “Science of Manifestation: Magnetic Desire”

Bottom Line?

Presence isn’t about being perfectly zen all the time. It’s just about being here more often—whether that’s when you’re talking to a friend, making a decision, or sipping your morning coffee.

And the more you're here, the better life feels. Simple as that.

If you’re ready to feel more grounded, clear, and connected—and want some support getting there, I offer 1:1 life coaching packages rooted in presence, trauma-informed care, and a blend of science-backed and soul-led tools. Whether you’re navigating change, feeling stuck, or just craving more alignment, I’m here to help you build practical habits and rituals that bring you back to yourself.

Your presence is powerful. Let’s work with it—together. ✨ Book a free 1hour session.

Ahava