In the past two months, two of my coaching clients were made redundant - both highly experienced design leaders in global corporations. Others are sitting with growing uncertainty in their jobs.
Many of us are experiencing similar inner weather, just in different circumstances.
The pattern I’m noticing
In moments of unsafety, the mind tells us everything matters at once.
Even when you suddenly have space in your calendar, it becomes harder to stop doing.
The system stays switched on. Mind goes on a catastrophising spiral. Urgency creeps in.
Most rush to restore safety as quickly as possible. That reaction makes sense.
But it comes at a cost.
A reframe worth holding
Safety is a prerequisite for creativity.
When we feel threatened, our vision narrows. We scan for danger, not possibility.
The same applies to our lives.
So rather than asking yourself “What should I do next?”, more useful question might be:
How might I operate from curiosity rather than safety-seeking?
Smoke from incense sticks clouds a temple alleyway in Kathmandu, Nepal, where people line up curiously to watch the rituals. (Photography by Nirish Shakya)
A simple inquiry
Ask yourself:
Where in my life do I currently feel unsafe?
For me, it’s the lack of a stable long-term homebase. My wife and I are currently experimenting with living in Nepal. While it’s an experience of a lifetime, that instability also quietly shapes my behaviour and mindset.
My mind craves certainty. I rush towards building and selling, trying to stabilise income. That’s when my work starts to feel serious and heavy.
Then I ask a second question:
If I felt completely safe right now, even hypothetically, how would I think, see and act differently?
In my case, I’d take my foot off the pedal slightly.
I’d spend more evenings watching films with my wife, like we used to in London. I’d pick up my guitar more often.
That wouldn’t solve everything.
But when the mind isn’t constantly scanning for threat, it wastes less energy. That energy gets redirected towards what actually matters. In my case, I feel more flow, more play, more joy in my work.
Ironically, feeling lighter makes me feel safer, not the other way around.
A necessary clarification
This isn’t about pretending everything is fine.
It’s about noticing how unsafety quietly hijacks how we act and how that awareness lets us gently interrupt that pattern.
Even when the mind insists everything matters right now, aliveness often returns when we choose what matters in this moment.
Give it a go
Notice where urgency is draining your energy.
Hypothesise and reclaim a small amount of that energy.
Redirect it towards something that genuinely matters - right now.
That’s often where aliveness begins to reappear.
Until next time,
Nirish
