From overwhelm, distraction & disconnection to courage, coherence & connection

We are living in a time of increasing noise, distraction and fear.

From brain-hacking algorithms to 24/7 breaking news. From messaging all around on what to wear, eat, buy, do and prioritize. Social media scrolling, worries about uncertain futures, and a fear of not being good enough.

We like to think we’re free, but much of the time we’re imprisoned by a cacophony of comparison-anxiety: should-do expectations, imposter syndromes, insecurities and overwhelm. We’re living amid rising tyranny. 

How do I fit in? How do I compare with others? What values should I ascribe to? What community ought I be a part of? What’s my purpose? Why am I here?

Untethered, worn out, and uprooted, we face these questions with a warped view of ourselves and the world. We get subsumed by a fear-based Mechanistic Materialism. The ego’s stress-induced high-beta brain waves and narrowed-down reductionism becomes a normalized perspective of ourselves (ego separate from soul, each other, nature and cosmos).

We then respond to existential questions with a jaundice view that creates yet more imbalance, more anxiety inducing activities, more must-do/have-to egoic-drives. We further disrupt our lives with confusions; further entrapping ourselves in the addiction of what other’s think of us. We become validation junkies.

It’s this fear-based anxiety-induced separateness that then purports more tech, more AI, more Big Data will ‘save humanity’ not realizing its more of the very same stuff that’s suffocating our souls, further imprisoning our minds.

Moments of space – a ‘spare minute’ – all-too-often interrupted by reaching for the digital device, scrolling on someone else’s life, or taking a pic of ours, then anxiously checking how much approval we’ve gained from others we hardly know. 

Is this it?

Is this humanity’s upgrade?

Our evolution in consciousness and next-stage post-modern civilization – hallmarked by yet more algorithmic distraction, consumerization and dis-ease?

No. In our hearts’ we know it’s a retardation, undermining opportunities for meaningful connection.

Humanity’s innate love of life is busily being replaced by a backdrop of fear. All-too-often we’re sleepwalking into our own oblivion.

Imposter syndrome, insecurity, a need to manage other’s impressions of ourselves, to fit-in to a newly found tribe, be seen, liked, noticed…. This tyranny reduces our capacity for creativity, empathy, authenticity, meaning-making and soulfulness.

The distracted ego feeds on control sustained by power because it lives in fear.  This is the real problem at the heart of our myriad crises today. 

Let’s face it – we’re experiencing a crisis of consciousness amid rising wars and weapons of mass distraction.

A New Way

Our way beyond this tyranny is right before us, and well within reach – like a pair of glasses we’re looking for without realizing they’re on our nose. 

Our own quality of presence brings the soul-power we need, not ego’s power over others, but the true power of really listening to self, other and life.

No always-on app or Fitbit required. No monthly membership, Instagram or TikTok necessary.

We’re clutching the keys for our own future-fitness.

“Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open? Move outside the tangle of fear-thinking. The entrance door to the sanctuary is inside you.” - Rumi

Try and fix today’s problems with the ego still firmly in the driving seat and we go down cul-de-sacs over and over again, wasting precious time still stuck in jail.

Jailbreak requires soul-connection which is predicated on opening ourselves up. A totally natural undertaking that brings us back home, in to the stillness of our own center, whereupon authenticity, empathy, connection and the capacity to thrive amid rising complexity become second nature.

Here’s three simple steps to find the doorway into our own soul sanctuary:

1.       Notice – Simply notice what’s going on. Notice the quality of attention we bring to interactions during the day. Notice how the ego-mind tempts us into anxiety inducing head-chatter.  Notice when we get stressed, how it feels in the bodymind, and when we feel in flow. Simply notice. Do nothing, just notice.

2.       Acknowledge – Start to acknowledge that the quality of attention we bring to activities and interactions is the crux of it all. Simply acknowledge. Do nothing, just acknowledge that our own consciousness is creating the anxiety – not the news, office politics, world tension or team conflict, or the social media feed and its amount of ‘likes’ - it’s our quality of attention that shapes us.  This acknowledgement brings us back into the driving seat of our own lives.

3.       Practice – With simple, easy to do, and enjoyable to undertake micro-practices, each day becomes the practice-ground. No gym membership required, as life is the most meaningful practice-ground for the evolution of our consciousness.

Notice, Acknowledge, Practice.

I’ve been coaching adults of all backgrounds – leaders, practitioners, coaches, change agents, activists, artists, athletes, academics, you name it – for many years now, guiding them through death-rebirth soul journeying.

(Here’s an article on soul journeying for more on what I mean here:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/soul-journeying-entering-promised-land-renewal-giles-hutchins-aewhf/

What I’ve learnt through guiding hundreds of diverse adults through profound shifts in consciousness is that the journey toward our true nature and soul-craft, is full of simple yet powerful practices, many of which are enjoyable. These practices bring play, creativity and conviviality right back into the center of our being. They welcome-in a joyful life of meaning-making and synchronicity that free us from tyranny.  These practices upgrade us: physiologically and psychologically we become future-fit, more able to thrive amid rising complexity.  We become the one’s we’ve been waiting for.

I share a number of these practices in my latest book KEYS for FUTURE FIT LEADERSHIP – From Coping to Thriving Amid Rising Complexity - which can be purchased directly from the sustainable/ethical publisher here:https://www.wordzworth.com/sales/authorbooks?ISBN=9781783243532 and also through main global channels.

You can read an informative independent review about the book here: https://elisabetlagerstedt.com/2025/06/09/the-key-to-future-fit-leadership-why-growing-yourself-is-the-most-strategic-move-you-can-make/

‘Giles’ book – Keys for Future-fit Leadership - is impressively comprehensive and very generous. With a large amount of frameworks, tools, and visuals, it acts as both a reference work and a source of daily inspiration. It can be read cover to cover or dipped into as needed. The book also features a selection of guest chapters with real-world stories from leaders applying these ideas in diverse industries and contexts. This brings Giles' insights to life, grounding them in lived experience. It’s not just about insight — it’s about practice. In short, Keys for Future-Fit Leadership is not just another leadership book. It’s a distillation of 30 years of inquiry, practice, and deep listening to what our times require. It invites us to move beyond surviving the future — and instead, to co-create it through presence, wisdom, and alignment. I highly recommend it for leaders, coaches, and practitioners working at the edge of business, human development, and systemic change.’ – Elisabet Lagerstedt, Founder & Director, Future Navigators

More advanced practices are best shared through one-to-one bespoke coaching journeys. For more on engaging with me as a coach see: https://gileshutchins.com/coaching/

‘Giles Hutchins is one of the most broad-reaching forward-thinking advisers, speakers and writers in business.’  Tima Bansal, Chair & Senior Professor, Ivey Business School

If you’d like to take part in a Future-fit Leadership Immersion at Springwood, Sussex, near London (amid 60 acres of secluded ancient woodland in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), you can read more about Leadership Immersions here: https://gileshutchins.com/leadership-immersions/

“Giles’s Springwood is not just about being in an ancient woodland—it’s about being with him. The energy of the forest has taken hold of him and you will get to appreciate the calm wisdom of being close to nature through his leadership programmes. A modern sage!”  Courtney Holm, Vice President, Sustainable Futures, Cap Gemini

Upcoming immersions are:

8th/9th September 2025 – £800 – two dayer/overnighter deep-dive – Only one space left

30th April/1st May 2026 - £800 – two dayer/overnighter deep-dive 10.15am day 1 to 3pm day 2, involves camping in ancient woodland and 14hr overnight ‘solo’.

29th June 2026 - £400 – one day immersion on Future-fit Leadership 9.45am-4pm

Either Direct Message me on LinkedIn or contact me via https://gileshutchins.com/contact/ to register your interest.

For now – I wish you a happy (re)birthday as the time has come to rebirth and activate humanity’s upgrade.  Welcome to the Regeneration (R)evolution.

‘Giles is a visionary and guide for anyone exploring the journey toward Future-fit/Regenerative Business. He's been called a wise medicine man for our time and a magician of consciousness. When you are with Giles you get why these words are apt.’  Jannine Barron, Founder of The Growth Experience

To sign-up for free content, newsletters & whitepapers go to https://gileshutchins.com/newsletter-subscribe/

You can watch a short 2min video about Keys for Future-fit Leadership here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjQ6s80ewNU&list=PL4fiSooXivB7D83ut1Igssgg0xZcf-mGN&index=34

Visit the Leading by Nature podcast which interviews pioneering leaders journeying toward life-affirming futures here: https://shows.acast.com/leading-by-nature OR https://gileshutchins.com/podcast/

 ‘Keys for Future-fit Leadership is nothing short of revolutionary—a compass for our times, providing the formula humanity urgently needs to navigate the seismic shifts we face.’   Marc Buckley, Founder ALOHAS Regenerative Foundation

 “Unless living in oxygen tents on Mars is your idea of the future, then our realignment with nature is essential. Giles Hutchins is growing in significance and channeling existential knowledge to help this essential realignment. His work has had a profound impact on me as CEO, countless individuals across our business, and massively on our wider organizational culture.” Galahad Clark, CEO & Co-Founder, Vivobarefoot

  Leading by Nature podcast https://gileshutchins.com/podcast/