The Gift Of Presence (Archive - Episode 4)

The Gift Of Presence (Archive - Episode 4)

What drives someone to seek a life that’s calmer, kinder, and more present? This conversation on Relational Recovery looks at that question through a very simple, very human lens: can you actually sit still with yourself? Host Wes Thompson and co-host Austin Hill talk about presence as a crucial skill for anyone facing addiction or unwanted behaviours.

Their starting point is blunt: “If we're going to be present with others, we've got to first be present with ourselves.” From there, they break down four classic Christian practices—silence, solitude, meditative prayer, and meditative scripture reading—as practical tools rather than religious homework.

They joke about how it can sound silly: “So we're just going to sit there quietly for a long time and then, you know, pray a little bit more and read a little bit more and then I'll get better.” But they quickly clarify that the point is consistency, not perfection. Try 15 minutes of quiet, they suggest, and see what happens.

Chances are, “those thoughts… temptations maybe, memories” start bubbling up—the very stuff you’ve been trying to push down with busyness, substances, or distraction. The episode also offers a very down-to-earth strategy: the sensory walk. Wes explains how, when he’s anxious or exhausted, he puts on ocean sounds, walks a familiar path, and pays attention to what he can see, smell, and feel—freshly cut grass, the air on his skin, his feet on the ground.

It’s a gentle way to calm a “monkey mind” and actually arrive in the present moment. Aimed at people in recovery and those supporting them, this chat blends Christian spirituality with psychological awareness in a relaxed, honest tone. If you’ve ever thought, “I can’t sit still with my own thoughts,” this might be a helpful place to start asking why—and what could change.