Regain control
When we finally got out of the denial room where we totally rejected the change that knocked on our door, we started to get interested in the new phase. The confusion room is the place and time where we accept the change, but we don't know how we will make it work.
You know, the most important part so far, is having managed to change the mentality and feel ready to run. Of course you won't win a marathon if you don't start training and even more so if after you start you don't jog intensely every day.
To walk this room from my experience requires two main things to happen:
1. Activate your curiosity
2. Be patient and trust that you will succeed
So start now, not tomorrow, to get all the information you need to get through this phase. Will it require multiple online or face-to-face training sessions? Will it require you to do internet research about it or go out and compare yourself with people doing the same thing you will be doing from now on? You can even just ask them about their experiences.
When we moved with my wife from one country to another, we had already gone through the first two rooms and then when we just landed in the new destination, a new country with a new culture and a new language, we had already accepted the change but nevertheless , we had to go through the stage of confusion. Asking, observing and learning from the new day after day made us adapt to the new reality.
Be patient and trust that you will head in the right direction. We are all responsible for influencing our own destiny but nevertheless, I believe that someone else already wrote on a stone what our lives will be about and as I said in previous posts, if you offer resistance as in meditation, you will not enjoy the experience. For this reason, be patient and trust that the best is always yet to come.
In this post, I would like to share another Pranayama practice that is very powerful for regaining control, known as Khapalabhati.
Kapalabhati Pranayama or Breath of Fire
It is best known for strengthening the functions of the liver and kidneys. The benefits of kapalbhati pranayama also include nerve energization, mental strength control, hair growth, and skin detoxification. Furthermore, the respiratory benefits of kapalbhati also include calming the sinuses and asthma. To put it into practice I invite you to follow the following steps:
1. Sit the same as in the meditation posture.
2. Inhale through the nose long and deeply.
3. Exhale quickly and loudly, expelling all the air by contracting the abdominal muscles in. The exhalation is similar to blowing out a candle, but through the nose.
4. Focus on exhaling, the inhalation is automatic. To set the pace, you can exhale every second, making the inhalation a little longer.
5. Take 20 Kapalabhati breaths and then breathe normally between each round of 20. Do three rounds.
6. When you have the established practice increase up to 60 breaths. Between each round inhale deeply but without forcing. Hold your breath between 30 seconds and one minute between each round of Kapalabhati.
With once a day between 15 and 20 minutes, it would be enough. You should not practice either shortly after eating as it could cause discomfort in your digestion or at night because it can disturb your sleep. Neither in case you are pregnant.
On an energetic level, if you are interested in the chakras, Kapalbhati Pranayama activates the third chakra (Manipura or solar plexus); in terms of your current asana practice and the day ahead, it can help promote self-discipline, confidence and warmth towards yourself and others.
Remember then, standing in the room of change with a lot of confusion but open to change and trusting that the best awaits us. Let me know what your experience is like and you can share it here so other leaders and managers can learn from you.