Lessons in quiet humility, that belong to you too

“When there is no gap between what we do in awareness and in unawareness, we have arrived.” CP

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It wasn’t until my own Mandala experience, that I understood the simple but also profound reach, that expanded emotional agency and core stability affords. ?This time in India wasn’t just a retreat it was a re-set, a new understanding, and a call to bring this 'frame of reference' and life lesson, to a wider audience.

Recent decades have seen me explore and create different health and wellbeing concepts, retreats, programmes and campaigns to raise the bar and move the cultural health needle from reactive to preventive. The simpler, the better.

During those six weeks in Auroville, a place founded in the sixties on the principles of human unity, I was immersed in a programme designed to reconnect with a deeper, more natural state of being. It was marked by a notable shift from the noise of everyday (normal) life to intentional stillness, where each sound and breath became a conduit to greater insight, not only of myself but of the interconnectedness of everything around me. In a world that teaches a lifeforce of ‘doing, the Mandala invites a state of gently, ‘being’.

A guided limbic reset peels away the layers of stress, distraction, and conditioned responses, that led to a more consistent state of inner calm and sustained stability. The simplicity of daily practice - anchored by inner technology (chanting, sound, breathwork) silence, and self-awareness, has a universal applicability, from CEOs to interns. Whoever you are, the simple but wonderfully rich and complex process makes the Mandala a tool for real, inclusive, enduring adjustment.

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Profound shift: what 42 days can do for you

We explored the concept of ‘nothingness’ and how it holds the key to understanding everything (more on that another time). The routine of each day (up at 5am, on the mat by 0600, chanting by 0630) held its own stability balm. Finding ease in the moment, recognising and ceasing the chase for external validation, reconnecting with the earth and nature.

It may sound like it was eternally blissful, it really wasn’t. Peeling back your own internal onion is a good metaphor; from tears to anger, frustration and bewilderment. The triggers are unpleasant but they point you to where you need to tend. I call this bit ‘colonic irrigation of unconsciousness’ or perhaps more vividly, swimming with your own turds. I know. Nothing beats that minds eye vision for really getting the excavational depth.?

Remember “the comfort zone is a beautiful place but nothing ever grows then” – leaning into the brown stuff is a rite of passage; it liberates, empowers and reveals.

Slowing down and allowing the natural rhythm of life to emerge, takes some time and discipline. In our modern world, where speed and productivity are prioritised, this can feel counterintuitive, frustrating and very uncomfortable. When that's happening, stop. That very discomfort is where you will find your gold. When you go slow, you hear the gentle hum of life’s undercurrent, it’s an ‘always on’ felt resonance that joins you and me – an intuitive instinct that can be cultivated more if we allow ourselves to be quiet, to feel and to listen.

Throughout the 42 days, the experience was less about adding new habits and more about shedding old patterns—stressful reactions, fragmented thoughts, and the constant need to control. What emerged was a softened agility, lightness and clarity, the kind that allow response instead of reaction. It is the essence of emotional agency and awareness and it is core to the Mandala42 process.

The timeline …42 whole days, seems like an endless amount of time. It passes quickly but importantly, it allows time for sustained adjustment, the process of letting go and dissolving what no longer serves you.

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Why stability and emotional agency matter NOW

You and I are more 'connected' than ever, yet there is a pervasive sense of disconnection. We’re bombarded with information, surrounded by noise, and caught in a cycle of reactive thinking. This environment not only drains energy, it can also erode a sense of self. That’s a recipe for stress, anxiety, and a feeling of perpetual instability.

For you and I as leaders, it’s particularly dangerous. We carry the weight of decisions, the health and wellbeing of teams, and the future trajectory of business, on our shoulders. Without a foundation of internal stability and emotional agency, it’s easy to get swept up in the storm.

In contrast, when you cultivate a state of presence, calm and clarity, you create a ripple effect that extends to everyone around you. Not doing, but being. Your team will notice. Your partner and family will sense a shift. You will feel your everyday energy, shift.

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A call to leaders: why this matters to you

You might wonder why I am so committed to offering Mandala42 as a no-cost, unconditional experience for cross-industry leaders? ?It’s a simple answer: I can see the need and I've seen results. More than that though, I believe strongly in the potential of limbic system engagement and alignment within, to transform how you and I live, work, and lead.

By giving you the opportunity to experience this transformation firsthand, you’ll know what wellbeing efficacy feels like in the most profound way possible. ?Not only will it improve team cohesion and performance, it will enhances the quality of your life and everyone in it.

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The power of inner shift: bringing it home

One of my biggest nuggets from this Mandala is the power of shared experience; that cultural transformation cannot happen in a vacuum. It requires a collective effort, a shared commitment to slowing down, reconnecting, and fostering a deeper sense of being here now. The work we do within ourselves reverberates outward, affecting how we interact with others and how they relate to us.

Mandala42 is a philosophy that acknowledges our innate capacity for growth, compassion and inner peace. It’s about reclaiming the parts of ourselves that may have been lost in the rush and living from a place of awareness and alignment.

So I’m asking ?you, as a leader, to consider not just what this could mean for your team or your business, but for you. Take this opportunity to invest in your own rich capacity, to reconnect with a sustained state of stability, clarity and ease and to lead from a place of pure authenticity and strength. The impact you can make is probably being grossly underplayed right now, give yourself wings!

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Conclusion: the invitation to transform

The curated and gifted Mandala is a rare journey. The unconditionality adds to the potency. I

I invite you to join me. ?I invite you to see firsthand, how it can transform you, ?your leadership and also the lives of those around you.

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Call to Action

?If any of this resonates, you know where to find me!

[email protected]

www.wellintellect.com

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