Tap In! Mindfulness tool

Congratulations. You are here. You did it.

You’ve survived 100% of your hardest days. Every unexpected detour. Every chapter you thought might break you. You’re here. Which is why I want to remind you: you’ll survive this , too.

This moment.

This uncertainty.

This weird stretch of when things feel off-balance or too hard.

I’ve talked to many people this week who are feeling anxious, frustrated, uncertain. High performers who are usually composed are on edge. If that’s you, I see you.

And I want to share a tool that I shared from the stage in my keynote that might help.

On Tuesday this week, I saw more heads than usual nodding and smiling as I shared this with a hard-working group with very difficult jobs.

The thought is something I call ‘Tap In’, and it’s simpler than it sounds.

You know when you're trying to take a picture on your phone, but it keeps focusing on the wrong thing? A stop sign in the background’s sharp, or some flowers in front of what your focusing on, but the subject, the thing that matters, is blurry.

What do you do?

Someone always says it: "Tap your screen."

Exactly. You tap in, and suddenly the right thing comes into focus.

Your brain works the same way.

Your mind works the same way. When life feels chaotic or your thoughts spiral into what-ifs and should-haves, you can bring yourself back into the present by mentally “tapping in.”

That’s mindfulness! Mindfullness is not some Zen mountaintop moment or perfect stillness. It's just this - being exactly where you are.

When I share this on stage, I’ll say something like:

“There’s a stage light. You’re sitting on a chair. You’re looking at me talking. We’re just... right here.”

Here’s some science behind why it matters:

When we dwell on the past, our brains trigger rumination pathways, fueling guilt, regret, and cortisol.

When we leap into the unknowns of the future, our brains activate threat detection, dumping stress hormones into our systems and putting us in a constant, low-grade, fight-or-flight mode.

Neither is helpful.

And right now? We are all, collectively, spending way too much time in constant low-grade fight-or-flight mode.

If you manage people, know they’re feeling this too.

If you work in finance, you’re living in an economy built on forecasts and unpredictability.

If you're a parent, a leader, a business owner, or just a human with goals - you’ve likely felt this weight.

That’s why this weekend, I’m inviting you to Tap In.

Not forever. Not for an hour of silence.

Just for a minute.

Pause.

Look around.

Notice where you are. The color of the wall. The shape of the clouds. The sound of your breath.

You are OK right now.

And your nervous system needs that reminder.

Because that one mindful moment can calm your brain, slow your heart rate, lower cortisol, and make space for clearer thinking and better choices.

So this weekend. Give your brain a break. Tap in.

This world may be spinning fast, but we don’t have to.

You’ve got this.

Note: This is Mental Health Awareness Month - check on someone you know.