Source Entrainment: 

Riding Life's Waves with Awareness and Grace

A Simple Practice for Seeing Clearly, Acting Wisely, and Being Fully Alive 

What Is This All About?

Imagine life as a vast ocean. Most of us feel tossed about by waves of information, technology, and social division—struggling just to stay afloat. We're searching for something solid to hold onto in this sea of confusion. That's where Source Entrainment comes in.

Source Entrainment isn't another complicated philosophy—it's a practical approach to living with greater awareness and purpose. Think of it as learning to surf the waves instead of being knocked over by them. It's about moving from just thinking about life to actually experiencing it more fully.

The Heart of Source Entrainment: SEE-DO-BE

At its core, Source Entrainment offers a simple three-part rhythm for navigating life: SEE-DO-BE. This isn't a rigid formula but a natural flow—like breathing in, breathing out, and the pause between.

SEE: Fresh Eyes on the World

What it means: SEE is about experiencing the world directly, without the filters of assumptions, expectations, or past conditioning.

In everyday terms: Think about the first time you tasted chocolate or saw the ocean. Remember that sense of discovery? SEE is about bringing that fresh perception to everyday life.

Example: When walking into your home after a long day, instead of immediately thinking about chores or turning on the TV, try experiencing the space as if for the first time. Notice colors, textures, sounds you normally tune out. That brief moment of pure noticing—that's SEE in action.

SEE works in two directions:

    • Outward: Noticing what's actually happening around you, not what you expect to see 

    • Inward: Recognizing your unique perspective—the way you naturally see patterns others might miss 

DO: Action That Flows from Seeing

What it means: DO isn't about forcing outcomes or following rigid plans; it's about responding creatively to what you've truly seen.

In everyday terms: Have you ever been in "the zone"—where actions seem to flow effortlessly? DO is about bringing that quality of responsive, intuitive action to more of life.

Example: In a heated conversation, instead of rehearsing your next point while the other person is speaking (or worse, interrupting), truly SEE them first. Your response (DO) will naturally be more relevant and constructive—perhaps a thoughtful question instead of a defensive comeback.

DO happens in two ways:

    • Responsive action: Following the natural next step that arises from clear seeing 

    • Creative engagement: Bringing your unique talents to situations, not just reacting by habit 

BE: Present in the Moment

What it means: BE is about fully inhabiting your experience—neither lost in thought about the past/future nor disconnected from your feelings.

In everyday terms: Remember moments of feeling completely alive and present? Perhaps watching a sunset, being immersed in music, or holding someone you love? BE is about bringing that quality of presence into everyday life.

Example: When eating a meal, actually taste each bite instead of scrolling through your phone. Feel the chair supporting your body. Notice the thoughts that come and go. This simple presence—that's BE in action.

BE has two aspects:

    • Being yourself fully: Embracing your unique qualities without apology 

    • Being connected to everything: Recognizing you're part of something larger than yourself 

Why It Works: The Power of Cycles

The magic of SEE-DO-BE isn't in progressing through steps but in recognizing their circular relationship. Each element naturally flows into the next:

    • Clear seeing (SEE) leads to more effective action (DO) 

    • Aligned action (DO) creates a deeper sense of presence (BE) 

    • Being fully present (BE) allows you to see with fresh eyes (SEE) 

It's like the water cycle—evaporation, condensation, precipitation—each phase creating the conditions for the next. This isn't just a one-time journey but a spiral that deepens with practice.

Real-life example: Think about learning to play an instrument. At first, you consciously SEE the notes, DO the movements, and try to BE a musician. With practice, these elements blend together—your seeing becomes more intuitive, your doing more fluid, your being more natural. The same notes become a richer experience as you spiral through the SEE-DO-BE cycle repeatedly.

Breaking Free from Mental Loops

We all get stuck sometimes:

    • Replaying arguments in our heads 

    • Worrying about the same problems without solving them 

    • Repeating harmful patterns in relationships 

    • Getting trapped in social media cycles that leave us drained 

These are like whirlpools in the ocean of consciousness—circular patterns that drain our energy without taking us anywhere new.

Source Entrainment offers a way out:

    • SEE the pattern: "I notice I've checked my phone 12 times in the last hour, each time feeling more anxious." 

    • DO something different: Put the phone in another room and take three deep breaths. 

    • BE with the experience: Notice the urge to check the phone without judging it, allowing it to rise and fade. 

This creates an exit ramp from mental hamster wheels by introducing new awareness into automatic patterns.

Navigating a Divided World

In a world where people seem increasingly unable to understand each other, Source Entrainment offers a different approach:

Beyond "Us vs. Them"

SEE helps us recognize that most issues aren't simple binaries. Like seeing that an apple isn't just red or not-red, but contains countless shades, textures, and tastes—complex issues involve multiple perspectives.

Example: Instead of seeing only "pro" and "anti" positions on a controversial topic, we might notice shared concerns beneath surface disagreements—everyone wants safety, respect, and a sense of belonging, even when they disagree about how to achieve these.

Creative Responses to Conflict

DO transforms how we engage with differences:

Example: In a family disagreement, instead of trying to prove your point (which often strengthens opposition), you might ask genuine questions about the other person's experience. "What matters most to you about this?" often opens doors that arguments keep shut.

Unity in Diversity

BE helps us experience connection even amid differences:

Example: Have you ever strongly disagreed with someone you deeply love? That experience—holding both difference and connection simultaneously—is a taste of what BE offers. It's not about eliminating differences but transforming our relationship to them.

Growing with Practice

Source Entrainment grows with you:

For beginners: It might look like taking a few mindful breaths before responding to an email, or really listening to someone instead of planning what to say next.

As you develop: You might notice subtle patterns in your reactions, experiment with creative responses to recurring situations, or experience longer periods of feeling connected to everything around you.

With mastery: The boundaries between SEE, DO, and BE start to dissolve. Like an experienced dancer who no longer counts steps, you move through life with natural awareness and grace.

Simple Practices to Get Started

For SEE:

    • Take a "sensory minute" each day—focus completely on what you can see, hear, feel, taste, or smell right now 

    • Before checking social media, pause and notice your current state of mind 

    • Ask yourself, "What am I not seeing in this situation?" 

For DO:

    • When feeling reactive, take a breath before responding 

    • Try doing a familiar activity (like brushing teeth or walking) with full attention 

    • Experiment with one small change to your routine each day 

For BE:

    • Practice feeling your feet on the ground while waiting in line 

    • Spend time regularly in nature without your phone 

    • Notice the space between your thoughts during everyday activities 

Why This Matters Now

We're living in extraordinary times—facing complex challenges from climate change to technological revolution to social polarization. These problems can't be solved with the same kind of thinking that created them.

Source Entrainment isn't about escaping these realities but engaging them more fully—with clearer perception, more creative action, and deeper presence. It suggests that our greatest resource isn't external technology but internal awareness—our capacity to see freshly, respond creatively, and be fully.

The invitation is simple: Start where you are. Notice what you're experiencing right now. Respond from that awareness. Be present with what emerges.

The ocean of life will keep moving. Source Entrainment doesn't promise calm waters—it offers something better: the ability to navigate the waves with grace, purpose, and even joy.

__________________

My Meta Moment

I didn’t create Source Entrainment as a clever theory; I discovered it by living through my own confusion. Life’s waves often overwhelmed me—tangled relationships, repeated mistakes, and moments when everything felt out of sync. Through those struggles, I slowly realized something profound yet simple: clarity and peace come from a rhythm of seeing clearly, acting responsively, and being genuinely present.

SEE taught me how to notice again. Not just to look, but to see freshly, without assumptions. When I paused to truly notice—my surroundings, my emotions, the subtle layers beneath conflicts—I discovered a new depth of connection. Seeing became a doorway to freedom from automatic patterns, allowing me to choose differently.

DO was harder. My reactions were deeply ingrained—defensive words, impulsive decisions, anxious routines. Yet every time I allowed my actions to arise naturally from clearer seeing rather than habit or fear, something softened inside me. Actions born from genuine seeing were simpler, kinder, and far more effective.

BE changed me most profoundly. In those quiet moments, fully inhabiting life rather than constantly chasing after it, I discovered I was already enough. Being present—truly here, connected to this moment—opened a wellspring of peace that had eluded me when I was caught up in endless striving.

Sharing SEE-DO-BE isn’t me preaching wisdom from above; it’s offering a hard-earned map from the trenches. These insights emerged from my own messy path—a path marked by mistakes, humility, and unexpected joy. My hope is they’ll resonate with you, offering the same clarity, ease, and authentic connection they’ve gradually given me.

Thank you for joining me here, in this shared exploration. 

Each moment of awareness is a ripple, and enough ripples can calm even the roughest sea...

Campbell Auer