Mind The Gap

First Posted on LinkedIn March, 2026

We have all been there. We have acted/didn't act, said/didn't say, or thought/didn't think. When we are tired the mind will shut down those higher executive functions to conserve energy and will 'keep the lights on' with those lower-level tasks that do not require much resources. Things like repetitive tasks, yes/No responses, a pseudo zombie state. We will muddle through until we get out the other side of the working day. We do not even realise that we are operating in this sub-par way.

Through meditation you gain greater self-awareness. A gap, so to speak, starts to grow between stimulus and response. You become aware that you are in one of these sub-par phases and that your judgement, patience and ability to think clearly may not be at their best.

That awareness gives you options. Rather than pushing on blindly, you can pause, take a walk, step away from the screen, have a short meditation or simply postpone an important decision until your mind is in a better place. You may even choose to focus on simpler, routine tasks until your energy and clarity return.

Having cultivated this gap through meditation, you become less likely to blurt out the first thing that comes into your consciousness, less likely to act on impulse and more likely to respond in a measured, clear and informed way.

Cultivate the gap. Don't fall into it.