The Deep Seat (The Secret to navigating a chaotic world)
When the world feels chaotic, it is easy to feel that chaos within yourself as well.
It is as if you are being tossed about in a spin cycle, unable to find solid ground. Like a game of whack-a-mole, you are constantly reacting to the next “crisis” or urgent demand, with little time to catch your breath before the next mole pops its head up. This reactive state has become so prevalent in our society that it can almost feel normal.
Except that it isn’t.
The truth is, we are not meant to live like that. We are not designed for a pace of constant reaction without recovery. Yet, once we are caught in that rhythm, breaking free feels nearly impossible.
I remember, back in my corporate life, taking a vacation to visit a friend who worked on an Alaskan ferry. This was no cruise ship; it was a working vessel, a way to transport cars and people from one point to another. It was bare-bones—no frills, no amenities, and absolutely nothing to do. I was on it for the entire week-long route.
On the first afternoon, I tried to sit in one of the few lounge chairs on the stern. After five minutes, I couldn’t take the stillness. I got up and I walked. I walked for miles—around and around the upper deck. I looked at the stunning views of the Inside Passage, but mostly, I just walked. The second day was the same—laps, over and over.
Finally, by the third day, I found myself stopping to rest. I sat down in that lounge chair on the aft deck, and for the remainder of the trip, that was my spot. I simply sat, watching the beauty glide past, doing nothing at all. The contrast between those first few days of restless pacing and the final days of stillness would have been startling to anyone watching. The lesson was clear: to find peace, I first had to move through the momentum of my own busyness.
Which brings me to Fortuna.
A few days ago, we headed out for a "peaceful" ride, just the two of us. But as we headed out on our way, we encountered part of the herd grazing where they shouldn't have been. Little Señor Sol was with them, having ditched his mom Alegria to find "greener grass" with the youngsters. As soon as he saw me, he called out with a whinny and began to follow us. So much for our peaceful, solitary ride.
I turned Fortuna around and called to the others: "Come on guys, time to go back." With Señor Sol leading the way, the herd began to follow us back toward the ranch. Suddenly, one of the older horses caught a spark of "going home" energy and broke into a run. The others immediately caught the fire.
In an instant, our peaceful ride evaporated. Fortuna began what I call her "run in place"—her feet dancing, her body pulsing with power, her energy ready to bolt forward with the others. In the past, this sudden shift from peace to adrenaline would have caused me to join her in that state of raised anxiety.
But instead, I practiced something I had heard about for years but had to experience to truly learn: I deepened my seat.
I sat heavier. I let my own energy sink down to merge with hers—not at her elevated state, but at a grounded one. We still moved forward—we had to lead the horses home. And Fortuna, much like me on that ferry boat, needed to move. "Sitting still" was no longer an option.
So, we moved, but we didn't join the "crazy" of the herd. We traveled forward, deep in the seat, leading the way. There were a few more excited moments from the herd, but by remaining grounded, I signaled to them: Wait, there is nothing to be afraid of. We are safe. We are headed home. We can relax.
It seems to me that the "deep seat" is exactly the energy we need in our world today. It allows us to keep moving forward, but in doing so, to respond intentionally rather than react to the chaos. It allows us to navigate the spin cycle with a sense of the solid ground beneath us.
Take the Reins
If you are looking to find your own "deep seat" and move through the world with more grounded intention, you are invited to join us tomorrow, Sunday, March 8th at 10:00 AM Pacific, for our next Take the Reins session.
Don’t forget the time change! Spring forward and join us for this morning of connection. I’d love to see you there.
Interested in more info? Send me a message for all the details.
