Strong Foundations

It’s quite extraordinary how one ‘ah-ha’ moment can have a massive impact on our thinking, emotions and actions. The most recent example for me happened during a three-day immersive development retreat run by the exceptionally brilliant Aaron Sansoni. 

Learning that we are either in a state of stability or instability—and that this is the foundation upon which we experience and create our reality—has profoundly influenced how I manage myself, as well as how I teach others to thrive in life and at work. 

Envision yourself standing on a boat moving through the water. When in a state of stability, we adapt with ease to the shifting conditions created by momentum and waves. When in a state of instability, ripples can unbalance us and waves can wipe us out. 

I was reminded of my karate training, where we were taught to create a strong connection between our hara and the center of the earth. Hara is a Japanese word that has no direct equivalent in English. While it literally refers to the lower abdomen, the term also has profound psychological and spiritual meanings in Japanese culture. Hara can be seen as the unification of a person’s physical, psychological and spiritual dimensions. (Source: https://choseizen.org/about) 

In karate, the goal was to feel heavily grounded while at the same time light-footed. From this stance, we experience both the calm, focused state that comes from being grounded and the ability to respond with strength and agility when needed. We train to respond both instinctively and deliberately in unanticipated, threatening situations. For example, there is little point in reacting quickly if it results in us ending up on our backside, putting ourselves in a more vulnerable position. To survive, we need to react while being conscious and clear about our responses. 

Maintaining balanced footing, reflective of a state of stability, has helped me face extreme emotional challenges in my personal life with a sense of calm and composure that, in my younger years, I would have been incapable of achieving. Despite what life has thrown at me, I’ve been able to think clearly, choose my emotional responses and take value from challenging circumstances. 

If you find yourself being bowled over or destabilized by the challenges that arise, reflect on what steps you can take to manage your mental, physical and spiritual well-being. If you want further guidance on how to do that, complete our Be Awesome eLearning module, where I share insights into the most important choices we need to make about how we think, feel and behave in order to thrive.