From Emergency to Emergence – A Practice of Seeing Clearly

Meta Description: Learn how to transform moments of reaction into opportunities for conscious emergence. Discover how to shift from emergency thinking to awareness through a practice of authentic seeing.

So much of our life is spent reacting — rushing to fix, control, or prove. This is the mindset of emergency. Where we can also see, that we only start acting once there is truly an emergency. Often this is hectic, leading to revolution. But growth is also possible through emergence, our evolution: slowing down enough to see what is, and allowing what’s true to unfold.

Impact Inquiry — The Practice of Seeing

1. Be curious. “I don’t know.”

First start with genuine curiosity, be willing to admit that maybe you are not entirely aware of the impact you have in every moment, maybe there are things that can be learned, new ways of perceiving what is happening. Be willing not to have to know and notice how quickly that leads to a sense of ‘but I already know’, which usually is a sophisticated way of your mind distracting you out of this present moment.

2. Be willing to look.
Now, stay with the curiosity and be willing to look. No result needs to be chased; nothing needs to happen now. Simply be willing to look. Again, notice how quickly you may feel irritated, that this is taking too long or probably not leading to anything. Simply see your mind drifting off into a story in your head.

3. Be willing to see.
While you stay in the willingness to look, now be willing to actually see. Also, notice how quickly you feel resistance or an urge to be right about whatever you did or ‘why’ you did it, especially if your system is feeling that the impact you’ve created might not be as glorious as you would wish it to be. Allow the resistance and stay willing to see.

4. Be with what is.
What you will see is what is so. There is truly nothing wrong with seeing what is. It is liberating. Even if you do not like what you see, it is a gift not to remain in oblivious neglect and distraction, but to acknowledge what is, which grants us the opportunity to learn, adapt, and evolve. And if you are thrilled with the impact you’ve had, then that is a celebration in itself, a cellular vibration; can you feel it in your body?

Emergence Over Emergency

So now: what insight arises from this inquiry? What action comes to mind? Do you feel the urge to emerge?

This is what creates the contrast between emergence and emergency. Emergency is reactive. Emergence is reflective. Both have their place, both contribute. From both, we can learn and both have impact. Simply be true and transparent with yourself about that impact. That’s when we stop fooling and distracting ourselves, that’s where the space becomes available to actually act differently, if we choose to do so. 

Emergence begins when we stop waiting for crises to wake us up. So—what are you ready to see more clearly? 

Curious? Let’s explore what arises together.