Mora Mora

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As I sit to compose this June musing I find myself very distracted …

I usually enjoy sitting in front of the white page, tuning into what is present and letting the story emerge. The words finding their way through me as I just follow the thread.

Today doesn’t feel like such a blissful experience though. So many ideas are colliding and fighting to be put on paper that I am starting, stopping, restarting. Changing direction, saving another draft, opening a new blank page. I am getting so close to my ideas, then feeling them drifting off in the distance. Everything spinning and not settling.

It is time to bring this brain activity to a “stand still”.

I recently experienced a similar and significant change of rhythm, in Madagascar. There, it is called “Mora Mora”, which means ‘wait a minute’, as well as, slow down, relax, take it easy, everything will happen in its own timing and 'go with the flow'.

Added to this, I was unexpectedly forced to ‘disconnect’ as my SIM card stopped working and for 4 days I had no technology access at all. There I was in a beautiful, contrasted and unfamiliar country with no connection to ‘my world’.

Mora Mora became my mantra!

I experienced 3 phases.

First a feeling of discomfort when my sim card stopped working. Then a flash of panic as I found out that there was no WIFI where I was (and no electricity either) so my backup plan was slipping between my fingers like water.

Then came a calm and deep presence as I tuned in to my new surroundings, observed nature, engaged with people around me and finally reconnected to myself.

The next few days I felt aligned with my environment, as I explored a tiny area of that all mighty and mysterious country. I discovered things often don’t go as planned and people respond with calm, serenity, smiling, waiting for the next opportunity.

I softened inside, embracing the timelessness and patience … Mora Mora.

You don’t need to go all the way to Madagascar and have some drastic technical issues, to experience disconnection, you can do so from the comfort of your own home and plan for it.

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I dare you to spend a day disconnected from technology:

Step 1: Inform friends and family if you feel they will be concerned about not being able to join you.

Step 2: Switch off your router, computer, television, and tablet. Hide them if you can.

Step 3: Put your phone on airplane mode, even better, leave it behind and keep a small notebook and pen handy.

Step 4: Observe, be present with the temptations, possibly the calling of technology, the ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ … Feel the ebb and flow of the feelings that are surfacing, what do they carry? Invite them, give them space!

Step 5: Finally, as you disconnect what do you connect or reconnect to?

You might want to extend the experience further, renew it regularly or never do or think about it ever again.

All is well, be kind to yourself just a little bit of exploration, relax, take it easy …

Mora Mora

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To explore ways to disconnect and balance your use of technology, get in touch to arrange a free conversation and explore possibilities, I guarantee it will be 15min of your time invested mindfully.

As the summer settles, days are getting longer and brighter, give yourself permission to disconnect from tech, reconnect to a more balanced life and dare to be the change you want to see in your organisation, family, community and life!

Image credit: 'Baie des Français' et 'Pain de Sucre' - Route de Ramena, Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Madagascar - Photo taken by moi!

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