Whenever we travel by plane, every pre-flight safety check tells us exactly the same thing — in the event of an emergency:
“… put on your own oxygen mask, secure it, and breathe normally before helping others with theirs.”
In this time of massive change, this is useful advice for all of us. We will become more effective if we make sure to “put on our own oxygen mask” before we help others with theirs.
Achieving this involves taking three steps, Centre, Ground, and Deepen:
- Centre: Put on the Mask
This means letting go of any inner churning we might be experiencing, calming ourselves, and refocusing on the present moment. - Ground: Secure the Mask
This means reconnecting strongly with what matters most to us and who we are at our best. - Deepen: Breathe Normally
This means deepening the relationship we have with ourselves, to build a stronger connection with ourselves and our priorities.
If we don’t take the time to put on our own oxygen mask during an emergency on a plane, we are likely to find ourselves struggling to breathe, before falling unconscious.
If we don’t take the time to Centre, Ground, and Deepen our connection with ourselves during these times of change, we are likely to find ourselves exhausted, reacting to events, and following other people’s priorities rather than our own.
In this time of global churning, putting on our own oxygen mask is the essential first step to achieving anything else.
How focused and inspired do you feel? How much of your time do you spend working on your own priorities rather than someone else’s? Do you need to stop for a moment and spend some time putting your oxygen mask in place?
Adapted from The Churning, Inner Leadership: a framework and a set of tools for building inspiration in a time of change.
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Photo By Miikka H via StockPholio.net