1. Centring and Neutralizing Feelings

“To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.”

—Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

As you begin reading the insights, I invite you to do what we do at the beginning of the class. Close your eyes for a few moments.

In a Karate dojo, the day begins with a greeting to the teacher, seniors, and fellow students, followed by a moment of reflection—Mokuso. This practice is a cornerstone of martial arts training, centring both the body and mind at the start and end of each session. It ensures that distractions from the outside world fade, bringing one’s attention fully into the present moment.

At the beginning of the class, the teacher asks you to start thinking about why you are there and what would you like to focus on in the class. Doing this enables one to slowly stop thinking about things that would’ve been happening in one’s life outside the class through the day and thereby enables you to bring your ‘mind’ into the class. While the body is there inside the class, the mind could still be wandering around thinking about diverse things that are not even related to the class.

Much like in the dojo, as you begin reading this book, I encourage you to pause. Close your eyes and reflect on why you picked it up. What led you here? What are you hoping to gain? This reflection will help clear your mind and prepare you to absorb the insights that follow.

At the end of the class, the reflection is about what happened in the class that day, what could one do well and what requires more practice. It is also about leaving the thoughts about the class there and to step back into one’s life with a refreshed and energised mind and much better focus. There may be certain lessons as well from that class that one could take into other aspects of one’s life.

I would urge you too to reflect on each chapter/insight as you read through the book and internalize the meaning and message for yourself as it connects with your own life.

The Power of a Pause

Mokuso, meaning ‘to reflect’ (formed by combining two words from Japanese, ‘Moku’ which means silent, and ‘so’, which means thinking or focus), is a powerful practice that helps martial artists centre themselves, letting go of distractions and focusing fully on the present. This concept can be seamlessly applied to leadership. In a world filled with constant demands, leaders often find themselves scattered, their attention pulled in multiple directions. By practicing mindful pauses, leaders can ensure that their mind follows their body into the task at hand—just as mokuso does in the dojo.

In leadership, the ability to centre and neutralize emotions is crucial. Whether addressing a crisis, leading a meeting, or engaging with team members, leaders must be fully present.

Too often, the demands of leadership lead to fragmented focus. But just as martial artists take time to ‘mokuso’ before and after training, leaders can benefit from taking brief pauses throughout the day.

This practice allows leaders to recalibrate, clear mental clutter, and approach the next task with fresh clarity. Such mindful moments ensure that leaders aren’t simply reacting to external pressures but thoughtfully engaging with the task at hand.

Just taking a pause at certain moments through the day or just before the beginning of an engagement/meeting or whatever else it is, closing one’s eyes to just relax and empty the mind of all the thoughts would enable one to start the next activity with a clearer mind and a sharper focus. Hence, Mokuso!

Applying Mokuso to Leadership

1. Pre-Meeting Centring: Before stepping into a critical meeting, take a few moments to close your eyes, take deep breaths, and let go of any previous distractions. Focus on what you need to achieve in the meeting and how you want to engage with your team.

2. Midday Reflection: As your day progresses, schedule short reflection breaks. These mindful pauses will help reset your energy and focus, allowing you to continue your day with intentional clarity.

3. End-of-Day Review: Just as martial artists reflect at the end of their session, leaders should take time at the end of each day to review their performance. What went well? What can be improved? This daily reflection will promote continuous growth.

Reflection Questions:

1. How often do you pause to reflect in the middle of a busy day?

2. What might change if you made time for mindful pauses throughout the day?

3. Think of a recent challenge where you felt overwhelmed.

How might a moment of centring have changed your approach or response?

The discipline of centring and neutralizing emotions, just like in martial arts, allows leaders to operate with greater focus and presence. By introducing mindful pauses throughout the day, leaders can navigate challenges more effectively and bring their full attention to every task, whether it’s a conversation, decision, or critical meeting.