studio non troppo : mindful design : facilitation

To learn to leap

Can great courage be built from little?

As a small instance of courage—a “little courage”—I imagine inserting just a thin sliver of time between a stimulus and what comes next. This allows what was an immediate, habitual reaction to be replaced by a response, now mediated by the narrow wedge of a moment’s pause.

Many times, our responses may well not rise above our worn, habitual reactions. I may quickly reach a judgement that is indistinguishable from my usual, mindless categorization. But the wedge of thoughtfulness may allow me, just occasionally, to choose differently.

Maybe, by practicing freedom this way, I can build a great courage.