The Concept of Ma

One of the COREJapan principles of Japanese culture, that I personally and professionally value deeply is the concept of Ma.

Ma is the concept of honoring and experiencing the space in between communication, art, relationships, and general life experience.

The space in between, for example, a pause, is a mini meditation and a time to gravitate to the silence that informs our experience and directs us to the next right moment.

In working with my clients, in business, for example, meetings are filled with Ma or a chance to give the listener and speaker rest to reflect and connect with harmony rather than ignite conflicts.

Ma informs our next steps by using space as a way to connect organically with the right words, actions and nuances that create successful, rich relationships.

Ma is a Japanese concept that describes a pause in time, an interval and emptiness in space. It is used to breathe, feel, and connect; an experience that Japanese people grow, flourish and nourish their hearts.

Instead of crowding words together and anxiously waiting to speak in our Western culture, the Japanese expect Ma in all forms; their gardens purposely give space to expand the experience, not shut down by overloading the senses.

COREJapan is proud to honor the concept of Ma for each client with the understanding that without this intentional space, the Japanese would not feel honored as they engage in Coaching.