Tilstedeværelse

Tilstedeværelse is a Danish term meaning presence or being present. It denotes the state of existing in a specific moment or place, and more broadly an attitude of attentiveness and engagement. The word is used in everyday speech to describe someone who is physically there and mentally attentive.

Philosophically, tilstedeværelse is linked to questions about how beings relate to their world. In phenomenology and existential thought, presence is central to experiences of being and becoming. In psychology, education, and leadership, the term is used to describe a practice of being fully attentive in interaction: sustaining eye contact, listening actively, and responding with awareness rather than distraction. In organizational contexts, cultivation of tilstedeværelse is seen as improving communication, trust, and collaboration.

In mindfulness and self-development, tilstedeværelse refers to nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment—the here and now, including sensations, thoughts, and surroundings. It emphasizes accepting what is without over-identifying with mental content, which is thought to support focus and emotional regulation.

See also: presence, mindfulness, phenomenology, attention.