We all need a place to escape to, a sanctuary from the relentless noise, the constant notifications, the never-ending demands. Our world moves faster than ever before, and it’s taking a toll. The pressure, the stress, the acceleration keeps our limbic system in overdrive, trapping us in a state of hypervigilance.
This is what I call the monkey brain mode. It’s a primal instinct, designed for survival:
✅ Do I eat it?
✅ Do I kill it?
✅ Do I mate with it?
That’s no way to make thoughtful decisions. It’s a terrible place from which to negotiate from, run a business, lead. And yet, more and more people are stuck there—constantly reacting, constantly overwhelmed.
There’s a better way.
One of the most powerful tools I’ve found is simple: Go to your happy place.
Not physically—though that’s great when possible—but mentally. By closing your eyes, breathing deeply, and focusing on a calm, soothing place, you can shift from fight-or-flight to wise, strategic thinking. You reclaim clarity.
For me, that place is just outside Puerto Vallarta. When the pressure builds, I close my eyes and picture myself perched on a ledge, feeling the warm sun on my face, listening to the gentle lapping of the ocean, watching little sailboats rock in the breeze. In an instant, the tension melts away.
I use this tool daily in high-stakes meetings, in moments of chaos, when life throws its hardest punches. And I promise you, it works.
So I ask again: Where is your happy place? Find it. Use it. Reclaim your power.
Wishing you clarity and peace,
Rich
