Create Space From Within

Stress is fast becoming the new normal. It is affecting all of us with the constant demands of shorter deadlines and the ever multiplying pitfalls of digital disruption. If we want to retain our personal sanity and serenity, it is becoming essential for each of us to formulate our personal strategies.

Of course, stress can also act as a positive fuel that drives us on the path of fulfillment. But, in excess, it can also be disruptive to our emotional well-being.

Few days ago I shared some thoughts about how slowing down is the key. Now is the time for me to tell you how and why. There is nothing mysterious about what follows. It’s just common sense.

• Slow Motion: First, I am inviting you to try the following experiment. Look at everything around you as if it was in slow motion and reconnect to your breathing. It may feel very counter-intuitive at first, but it is a natural state of being that will ground you. Very often, when the the world around us gets out of control or things move faster, our initial impulse is to try to do the same. We tend to react faster, to faster. Nothing can be more dangerous because stress is like a positive feedback loop that puts us on a downward spiral. The opposite is more appropriate. React slower to faster. Just slow down. Don’t get me wrong; I am not saying that you should take your time when your life is in danger or when you are required to respond swiftly to an emergency. 

• Awareness: All I am saying is that the initial impulse to speed up when you are under pressure may not be triggered by a healthy reflex. The decision to see things in slow motion will help you notice thoughts, actions or words you may not be aware of. Eastern philosophy says that each instant (a finger snap) is made of 65 mental imprints (see The Diamond Cutter by Geshe Michael Roach). That’s a lot, don’t you think? It also means that so much happens in each of these moments that we are bound to perceive our reality with the false assumptions. As you begin to notice those single instances that unfold one moment after another, you increase your awareness about your own behavior. You are widening your scope of perception and begin to see things you may not have noticed. 

• Notice and Learn: From that crisper image that you are shaping within your mind, you also start to know more about yourself. That wider perspective about what surrounds you and what happens within you creates space. All of a sudden, the mistaken assumptions you may have had dissolve. They make space for new possibilities to emerge. You begin to feel more confident. 

• Create the space to act: And from that state of confidence, your mind and your body start to align. You can then act with serenity and peace. 

Meditation and mindfulness play a major role of course in what was just described. If you regularly set aside few minutes to sit down and meditate, you will create these moments of silence and pure awareness that will percolate throughout your day. 

These are just personal recommendations that I am inviting you to experience. It’s up to you to try. Ultimately, they hinge on how we understand the reality we are dealing with. That understanding alone can set our meditation on fire and help us reach the full potential of what we can be!

Ben Ghalmi travels the world to build bridges of understanding and connections. He is an Executive Coach with John Foley Inc. and advises business leaders and innovators who are eager to create peace around them and in the world. He founded YogiCEO and Karmic Conversations, a platform of dialogue and social innovation. You can reach him at [email protected]