Strong Foundations

It’s quite extraordinary how one 'aha' 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 is the foundation upon which we then experience and create our reality – has had a profound influence on how I manage myself as well as teach others about thriving in life and at work.    

Envision yourself standing on a boat that is 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 wipe us out.   

I was reminded of learning in karate to create a strong connection between our hara and the centre of the earth.   

Hara is a Japanese word that has no equivalent in English. While it literally refers to the lower abdomen, the term also has profound psychological and spiritual meanings in the Japanese language and culture. Hara can be seen as the unification of a person's physical, psychological and spiritual dimensions. 

(Source: https://choseizen.org/about) 

The goal in Karate was to feel heavily grounded while at the same time, light footed.  From this stance we have both the calm, focused state that comes from being grounded and the ability to respond with both strength and agility when we need to.    

In karate we train to respond both instinctively and deliberately in unanticipated threatening situations.  For example, there is little point in reacting quickly if the outcome is that we end 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 to face extreme emotional challenges in my personal life with a sense of calm and composure 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 wellbeing.  If you want further guidance on how to do that, complete our Be Awesome eLearning program where I share insight to the most important choices we need to make about how we think, feel and behave in order to thrive.