The faster our world speeds up, the more our brains are programmed to react. The more time-saving devices we create, the more we experience the lack of time. Hence, we participate in a vicious circle: Our false belief (the belief that there is no time) contributes to the social problems of our time.

No Time
There is no time to respond.
No time for critical thinking.
No time for civility.
No time for reflection.

You see, the problem with no time for responding, critical thinking, civility or reflection is one of public safety and personal safety. There is no space between stimulus and response. We are losing the ability to think, and instead every upset becomes a trigger to lose control, to react.

The signs are all around us. These reactive responses are not just coming from delinquent youth, or Gen Y, or entitled teens. The most intelligent, the most highly educated, the most politically connected members of our society are easily irritated or prone to outrageous outbursts when someone says something they don’t agree with. Just say one thing about guns or gun control and see what happens.

We all need to step back and take a big deep breath and go within. We need to consciously decide how to show up. We need to reconnect with the inner light, the spiritual essence of what makes us human, or we will experience the consequences of our own unconsciousness.

If well-meaning adults are not able to be role models during these changing times without losing control what is our hope for the future? How can we expect those we influence and lead to be better than we are now?

We are going to see more shootings, more violence and more social problems no matter how many new laws are created. I hope I’m wrong, but here’s why I make this prediction: Whatever we see manifested in our world is an expression of something deeper, as I talk about in my E2 Model, also known as the Express Experience model. You can use this model to look at the world, at your corporation, at other people or to examine your own life. In a nutshell, you expression comes from what you are experiencing. As below, so above. There is a bloom (the expression) and there is a root, (the experience.) Making a new law, or pointing a finger to one particular cause to nip the bud while the root grows thicker and stronger.

It’s A+B+C+D = E. Change one piece of the equation and you change the result. What I see expressing right now is good people arguing over whether the problem is A, B, C, or D.

It’s easy to look at the world and make a judgment, to have a quick answer, or to make wrong, but real transformation starts on the individual level—it starts within. It will be enlightened leaders who promote social change in our corporations, our communities and in our classrooms. It starts with me. It starts with you.

The world is simply a mirror of what we are collectively expressing. This expression is rooted in an experience: The experience of fear. The experience that there is not enough time, not enough opportunity, not enough resources. As a result we ask who is to blame? We ask what law can be created to stop the violence. We ask, why doesn’t the government get their act together?

The quality of our lives are directly related to the quality of our questions. Maybe we’ve been asking the wrong questions.

If you have time, please ponder these questions:

What do you experience on a daily basis?
What would you have to believe to have this experience?
What are you expressing on a daily basis in your personal and professional life?
What are you willing to do to become the change the world needs?

How would the world begin to change if our experience was one of abundance, opportunity and connection? Would the reflection change?

Join me on July 17, 2013 at 10:00 Pacific | 11:00 Mountain | 12:00 Central | 1:00 Eastern for the 5 Traits of Authentic "Drama Free" Leaders - ☆ ★ REGISTER NOW ☆ ★ - I'll see you there!

Marlene Chism is a professional speaker, trainer, consultant and author of Stop Workplace Drama (Wiley 2011). To learn more visit www.stopworkplacedrama.com or www.marlenechism.com