This is episode-6 of the calm conversation with Josie Gibson from The Catalyst Network, inspired by Robert Poynton’s book “Pause – You are not a To-Do list“. The approach is simple: we both read chapter-6 of the book and highlight three sentences, and mark the words that resonate most. These sentences and words are the triggers for a very slow-paced conversation on whatever comes our way. No tricks, no gimmicks, just a gentle and calm wandering and meandering of minds.
Chapter-6 is about Tools (of Pause)
Here are Josie’s three sentences:
He uses differently coloured Google calendars where the colours represent how each kind of time feels to him..
It is more powerful if you are able to think about multiple layers, and build a set of practices that weave together the different ‘pace layers’ of your life instead of relying on just one.
Noone has a life so unrelenting that it is impossible to pause.
And here are my three sentences:
‘Exhale time’ is when he is teaching, writing or delivering work for clients. ‘Inhale time’ is when he is reading, studying, walking or spending time with people he just finds interesting
Notice what that experience is. If it was interesting, or useful, or valuable, or thought-provoking, or puzzling, or curious, or fun, or engaging in any way at all, do it some more. If not, try something else.
Instead of trying to manage your time, pay more attention to finding your rhythm
We covered a wide range of topics from responsible imagination, slower time, golden time, smell time, sound time, synesthesia,…
…colors of the months, layers, weaving, fabric, calendar, interstitials, 3D, 4D, rhythm in context, two people dancing the tango, wondering with intent, accountability for creative health, and undefended presence (mentioned in the Coaching Summit 2020 video below).
We even talked about the South-Australian Tjuringa, a Dream Stones, and artist Roman Polanka’s visualization of time.
Other links mentioned in this podcast:
- The book Design Unbound (some free chapters for download here)
- The book Homo Ludens by Johan Huizinga, about “Play”
- The Art exhibition “Writing Beyond” in Axel Vervoordt Gallery, Antwerp
Episode-1 is here. Episode-2 is here. Episode-3 is here. Episode-4 is here. Episode-5 is here.
These are very calm conversations; so best is to take a pause, install yourself in a quiet corner, and enjoy!
Peter & Josie
Petervan Studios 
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