Many things can startle you, causing you to become unbalanced and uncentered. At the same time, being startled by someone or something can also be viewed as a catalyst for becoming even more balanced and centered than before. For example, without denying the shock, a student who’s startled by the fact that he or she failed an exam can use the experience as an incentive to study more effectively for the next test.
Begin a random walk around the room or area you’re in. . . . . . As you walk, go through your balancing and centering and soft eyes procedure. . . . . Whenever you hear a loud sound, glide to a stop, turn and have your center face the sound, and balance and center yourself on a level deeper than before. Use the previous balancing and centering experience as a basis for going deeper into the new one. . . . .
(After allowing the person or people to walk about for approximately one minute, the reader shouts.)
“HEY!” . . . . . On hearing this, glide to a stop, turn your center directly toward the sound and use the shout as a means to balance and center yourself even more deeply than before, and to energize yourself. How would it feel to be more balanced and centered than before? Take a moment to develop a sense of this and to make any corrections or adjustments. . . . . Continue to breathe from center and use soft eyes.
Maintaining your awareness of this deeper level of balance and centeredness, resume your random walk. . . . . There’s no need to deny being startled. If you’re startled, you’re startled. Let this be okay. There’s no judgment here. Simply accept being startled and use it to balance and center yourself at an even deeper level. . . . .
(After another one to two minutes, the reader moves to another location in the room or area and shouts.)
“I HATE YOU!” . . . . Did you glide to a stop and, without denying being startled, turn your center directly toward the loud sound? Did you take time to balance and center on a level deeper than before? Did you use the sound to become even more alive and alert? Make any necessary adjustments and corrections. . . . .Resume your random walk. Remember to use soft eyes, and breathe and move from center. . . . .
(After only fifteen seconds, the reader changes location once again and continues.)
“GO TO HELL!” . . . . Take a few moments to check yourself. Did you get angry and make judgments, or simply remain balanced and present, ready for whatever might unfold? Consider the possibility that the curse was really a cry for help. . . . . How is your positioning? . . . . Did you balance and center on a deeper level than before? . . . . Begin your walk once again. . . . . .
(The reader repeats the same process two or three more times, varying the spot from where the shout comes. The reader is encouraged to use shouts or nonverbal, loud noises, such as clapping the hands loudly or slamming down a book. Also, if there’s a group of people performing the exercise, the reader can walk among the participants and, in a whisper, quietly assign one of them to be the source of the loud noise and have the designated participant scream or shout at an appropriate time. Whoever is assigned this role should remain stationary after shouting.). . . . .
Please stop. . . . . (SHARING)
Many times we’re startled by something and react without being balanced and centered. We allow the situation to take us over. In these instances, we may make assumptions that aren’t correct, and then react to our assumptions instead of what’s really happening. For example, you may see a man assaulting a woman who’s crying for help. You rush over and push the man away. Much to your surprise, the woman begins to assault you verbally. In a matter of seconds you discover that the two are lovers and were only playing.
This is a lighthearted example, but it shows why it’s important to turn in the direction of whatever startles you and balance and center, becoming totally present before doing anything you may later regret. The process of becoming centered and aware after having been startled doesn’t have to take more than a second or two and could prove to be vital.