In a morning meditation with Jonathan Lehmann, he focused on presence and compassion. The first affirmation addressed how to react to a situation: pause, breathe, observe, respond. These instructions mirror the observe, orient, decide, act (OODA) loop developed by the US military strategist John Boyd. Within both, I have the hardest time remembering “observe” in the former and “orient” in the latter. Both involve the thinking that occurs in the actively aware space prior to acting.
There are many studies about feelings that can’t be felt at the same time—fear and transcendence, happiness and grief—which perhaps give insight into why our reactions are complex. As someone who celebrates the both/and, instead of the either/or, I find these tools that intentionally insert space between receiving information and acting upon it provide structure for being present. They help us make the best decisions as well as respond from a place of compassion instead of judgment.
Years ago two large sculptures by Huma Bhabha were installed on the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. They faced each other, and one was bent over in prayer. Titled We Come in Peace, they were stark, arresting, and suggested that, with a breath, a pause, observation, and orientation, we all can do the same.
.JPG)
