With the constant buzz of everyday life, learning to be fully present can truly change how we connect with ourselves and others. In this episode, we’re hanging out with Austin Mao, who opens up about his journey from tech entrepreneur to transformational guide. He shares some eye-opening perspectives on cultivating "ultra presence"—the ability to stay connected and engaged no matter what’s happening around us.

Austin also introduces a powerful practice called "stretching," which empowers you to hold multiple points of attention at once. This technique makes it easier to connect deeply with friends, partners, and colleagues, even when life gets chaotic. He shares practical strategies for navigating conflicts and fostering deeper relationships.

With expertise rooted in his experiences at Ceremonia, a retreat center he founded in Colorado, Austin provides a blend of practical and spiritual approaches to presence. Tune in to discover how embracing “ultra presence” can unlock your true potential and enrich your connections in an increasingly distracting world.

Key Takeaways:

[00:01:03] Ultra presence in chaos.

[00:05:04] The power of presence.

[00:08:39] Presence and connection in relationships.

[00:14:22] Self-mastery and creativity.

[00:19:01] Ultra presence and meditation.

[00:21:10] Awareness and attention in mindfulness.

[00:24:09] Alignment in personal truth.

[00:30:56] Empathy in conflict resolution.

[00:35:34] Authenticity in daily interactions.

Memorable Quotes:

"When we have that level of conscious awareness — which we can develop — then we're able to be more connected because we're more connected with ourselves." – Austin Mao

"Attention is power. When we hold attention over others — look at the politicians, look at actors. There is so much extraordinary power there. When we're able to hold attention on ourselves, we have inner power." – Austin Mao

"Every major spiritual tradition leads you into presence, and presence can lead you — based on the spiritual traditions — to higher states of consciousness, to connection with spirituality and divinity. I think that thousands of years of spiritual texts cannot be wrong. This is the core of what it means to be human. This is the core of connection. This is the core of manifesting." – Austin Mao

Where to Find Our Guest

Website: https://www.austinmao.com/ and https://www.ceremoniacircle.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austinmao/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/austinmao

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinmao/

To stay connected and to learn more about Vishen and Mindvalley, click on the links below:

Website: https://www.mindvalley.com/about

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/vishenlakhiani

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindvalley/

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindvalley

Become the best version of yourself with the world’s most effective transformation platform. Join Mindvalley Membership Today: https://start.mindvalley.com/membership

Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com

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