“There have been countless ingenious technological innovations the past 200 years, in the last 50 years especially, all designed to save us time. Remarkable inventions. Somehow, the result has been that nobody has any time left. Why? What is that all about?” —Dr. Jacob Needleman
Dr. Needleman goes on to say that the urgent quickening drumbeat of imposed artificial external time has been obliterating our natural inner quality of eternal timelessness, where the truth of who we really are resides.
Twenty years practicing Relational Presence with groups has gotten me to a place where I effortlessly facilitate a luxurious sense of timelessness that brings listeners in any room into their essential knowing. When I am not in front of a group, however, I am often at the mercy of that “urgent drumbeat of imposed external time” that is our modern plague.
So through Dr. Needleman’s words, I see that my personal work these days is the opposite of what it used to be when I discovered–and began teaching–how to translate one-on-one attunement skills to groups through Relational Presence practice. Over the years I have translated my well-honed group attunement capacity to one-on-one interactions with some success–and still have a ways to go. Most challenging though, is translating my ease with groups to my time alone with myself.
For instance, with groups I am “easygoing in the not knowing” to a fault by only and always being with one person at a time as if they were the only person in the world. I don’t make any effort to connect (which would be coming from separation) but rather gently invite/allow the natural connection between humans to arise. This entrains the group’s breathing and creates an irresistible field of clarity that makes everyone smarter.
So how do I do this with myself in the middle of a hectic workday, or when I’m trying to relax? Dr. Needleman gave me a clue: I can tap into a state of Relational Presence between the two parts of myself: the busy external timekeeper, and the timeless inner essence. I might see the hectic or anxious one through the timeless part not as wrong, but more like a cute puppy who can’t help but rip up the furniture when left alone. Or at other times as one who is trying to do their absolute best to take care of business.
And through the lens of the busy one I might take a deep breath and recognize that as critical as the need to get things done may seem, giving space to my timeless essence is key for true fulfillment.
Connecting more with your timeless essence will certainly enhance the quality of your interactions and impact on others.
The “urgent drumbeat of external time” feels so real, the first step might be to see it for what it is and laugh at the notion. I’m making that my call to action now. Will you join me in the intention?
© Copyright 2013-2014. Lee Glickstein. All rights reserved.
