{"id":236229,"date":"2025-07-04T15:23:39","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T15:23:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/?p=236229"},"modified":"2025-07-04T17:52:05","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T17:52:05","slug":"the-power-of-your-presence-in-a-noisy-fast-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/the-power-of-your-presence-in-a-noisy-fast-world\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Your Presence in a Noisy, Fast World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; da_disable_devices=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; da_is_popup=&#8221;off&#8221; da_exit_intent=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_close=&#8221;on&#8221; da_alt_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_dark_close=&#8221;off&#8221; da_not_modal=&#8221;on&#8221; da_is_singular=&#8221;off&#8221; da_with_loader=&#8221;off&#8221; da_has_shadow=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<p class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\"><em style=\"font-size: 22px;\">Saluti da Firenze!<\/em><em><\/em><\/p>\n<p id=\"ember227\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">I\u2019m in Italy this week to attend and speak at the Monash University Global Leaders Summit\u2014my alma mater. The title of my session:<span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span><strong>Leading in a World Demanding Change<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember228\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">As distinguished alumni gathered from across the globe (we Aussies are known for spreading ourselves far and wide!), the conversations turned to a pressing question: how do we become the leaders\u2014and people\u2014the world most needs right now?<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember229\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">In my session, I explored how we can (and must) intentionally evolve to meet the pressures and possibilities of this moment\u2014not by racing faster to control the uncontrollables, but by expanding our capacity to stay fully present within it.<span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>To make wiser, values aligned, decisions amid ambiguity.<span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>To respond\u2014not react\u2014to a world moving at warp speed.<span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>To close the gap between what we\u2019re doing and what we need to be doing to help shape a stronger, more sustainable future in which humanity thrives more, not less.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"ember231\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">Because let\u2019s face it: the technology shaping our lives is advancing at a pace our brains\u2014still wired for survival on the plains of Africa 60,000 years ago\u2014struggle to keep up with. The real work isn\u2019t keeping pace with the machines. It\u2019s upgrading the quality of our attention\u2026 and our capacity for courageous, thoughtful action in a world that\u2019s only getting noisier, messier, and faster.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember232\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">Amid the waves of disruption that leave many feeling anxious and overwhelmed, life is issuing each of a silent invitation to learn how to surf the waves of possibility \u2014and use it them a catalyst to transform ourselves, and the organizations and systems we are part of, toward a better future.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\"><strong style=\"font-size: 22px;\">Because in a culture that glorifies urgency,<span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span><em>choosing presence<\/em><span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span>has become a radical\u2014and deeply human\u2014act of leadership. And living.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"ember234\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">Many high achieving people I speaking to have shared the pressure they feel under an urelenting expectation to deliver, perform, show up &#8216;all together&#8217; and stay ahead of the AI revolution. All the while the ground beneath them keeps shifting, their mental maps feel increasingly obsolete and headlines trigger a raft of emotions\u2014anxiety, insecurity, disconnection, hopelessness, inadequacy and sometimes even tempt them to despair or rage.<span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"ember235\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">It&#8217;s a lot.<span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"ember236\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">Little wonder the pressure to rise above it all\u2014to be a force for good and agent for change\u2014can feel as daunting as it does impossible.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember237\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">Which is why I believe it&#8217;s so incredibly important right now to press pause on our industrious &#8216;doing&#8217; and consider that meeting this moment isn&#8217;t about spinning plates faster or improving our juggling skills to keep more balls airborne at once. Rather, it&#8217;s about growing our capacity to stay present amid the mess of it all, to reset our relationship with our uncertainties and to discern which balls need laying down.<span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"ember257\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\"><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-52px||-16px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<p id=\"ember240\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">Last night at dinner high in the Tuscan hills, I soaked in the majesty of the sun setting over the stunning landscape. It provided a moment of awe and wonder and helped me get present to the pressure I&#8217;ve put on myself to do more and the overwhelm that&#8217;s created in me. As someone wired for action, taking a break from &#8216;doing&#8217; doesn&#8217;t always come naturally. Pressing pause can trigger a deep irrational fear of being left behind.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember241\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">Yet I&#8217;m slowly coming to appreciate that often the bravest decision we can make is not to take a bold leap forward but not to leap at all. To resist the urge to rush; to prioritize presence over performance; questions over answers; being over doing; to put my &#8216;to list&#8217; aside and to prioritize my &#8216;to be&#8217; list.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\"><strong style=\"font-size: 22px;\">In times of stress, we regress.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"ember243\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">The truth is, we&#8217;re living through a time of enormous complexity and change. And when things feel overwhelming, it&#8217;s easy to crave certainty. To want clear answers. To make fast decisions just to lighten the load. But that&#8217;s often when we most need to slow down. As Ken Wilber said, &#8220;in times of stress, we regress.&#8221; Our broader perspective gives way to tribal thinking. Our tolerance for nuance shrinks. We cling to simplicity\u2014not because it&#8217;s true, but because it feels safe.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember244\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">And yet, the answers that will serve us best\u2014individually, collectively\u2014don&#8217;t come from collapsing complexity. They emerge from being able to hold it with greater courage and curiosity. From creating space to feel what we&#8217;d rather avoid. From letting go of needing to have it all figured out and embracing our humanity in a digital world racing steadily forward.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember245\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">Earlier this year, I shared this video about how &#8220;boats don&#8217;t sink because of the water around them, but because of the water that gets in.&#8221;<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-17px||21px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_video src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/shorts\/bLzBf3FWvkY&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||-37px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<p id=\"ember246\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">That piece of my dad&#8217;s wisdom has never felt more relevant. Because the noise, negativity, and chaos going on all around us every single down is not going away. Yet we are not powerless in our ability to choose &#8211; and rechoose &#8211; how much of it we allow to seep into us and overtake our lives. It may not be easy, but we humans also come hardwired with the ability to adapt, to learn and to steady ourselves amid many storms blowing around us.<span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"ember247\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">Learning to close the &#8216;courage gap&#8217; that fear widens in times of uncertainty (and yes, a shameless plug for my book!) is the invitation I offered to my fellow leaders and change agents here in Italy. Not just the challenge of leading others, but the challenge of leading ourselves. Of showing up more bravely &#8211; not by bracing harder, but by breathing deeper. Of innovating not from urgency, but from alignment with a purpose that transcends our need to avoid discomfort. Of building not just what&#8217;s needed now, but what&#8217;s worthy of tomorrow.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember248\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">And none of that happens when our energy is consumed by controlling, proving, perfecting and (trying) to spin more plates faster. It happens in the space we create when we decide prioritize presence over performance; purpose over proving. This doesn&#8217;t deny competitive realities. Rather it elevates our perspective to see with new eyes, ideate beyond existing paradigms and navigate from values, not from fear. A quote by Einstein that I shared yesterday:<\/p>\n<p class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\"><strong style=\"font-size: 22px;\">We cannot solve our problems at the same level of thinking at which they were created.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"ember250\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">So if you&#8217;re feeling stretched right now, pulled to do more, or struggling to hold it all together\u2014maybe the most courageous thing you can do is\u2026 less.<span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"ember251\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">To resist the urge to do more and give yourself permission to take &#8216;time out&#8217;.<span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"ember252\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">To breath in courage, and breath out fear.<span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"ember253\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">To make space for the deeper wisdom and insight that only stillness can bring.<span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"ember254\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">Because sometimes the real work isn&#8217;t in what you should do next but to sit with what is present right now. Because in that space of connecting to this moment, you unlock your creativity and expand your capacity to take better and braver action to shape what is coming next.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember255\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"ember256\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\"><em>If you&#8217;d lie some inspiration and encouragement to help you navigate your bravest path, please check out my book<span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span><\/em><a class=\"wsMvqdsCQwHMdXuvCLlSAkmVYButhGSUc \" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.margiewarrell.com\/thecouragegap\" data-test-app-aware-link=\"\" tabindex=\"0\"><em>The Courage Gap: Five Steps to Braver Action<\/em><\/a><em><span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span>(also narrated by yours truly on Audible).<span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p id=\"ember257\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\"><em>And if you&#8217;re a podcast fan, take a listen to my<span class=\"white-space-pre\"> <\/span><\/em><em><a class=\"wsMvqdsCQwHMdXuvCLlSAkmVYButhGSUc \" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/apple.co\/3ktk3Vx\" data-test-app-aware-link=\"\" tabindex=\"0\">Live Brave podcast!<\/a><\/em><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Saluti da Firenze! I\u2019m in Italy this week to attend and speak at the Monash University Global Leaders Summit\u2014my alma mater. The title of my session: Leading in a World Demanding Change. As distinguished alumni gathered from across the globe (we Aussies are known for spreading ourselves far and wide!), the conversations turned to a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":236245,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[39,84,184,208,234,377,628,805,852],"class_list":["post-236229","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-action","tag-attitude","tag-change","tag-comfort-zone","tag-courage","tag-fear","tag-margie-warrell","tag-purpose","tag-resilience"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236229","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=236229"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236229\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":236248,"href":"https:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/236229\/revisions\/236248"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/236245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=236229"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=236229"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/margiewarrell.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=236229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}