Creating Sacred Spaces

“To touch the soul of another human being is to walk on holy ground.” 
— Stephen R. Covey

In last week’s reflection on Finding Sanctuary, we explored how stepping briefly out of the chaos of life can help restore our bearings. But there is another kind of restoration available to us – one that doesn’t occur in solitude, but in relationship by intentionally creating sacred spaces.  This can occur in exam rooms, hallways, office doors left slightly ajar, and impromptu conversations that begin with, “Do you have a second?”  These ordinary moments hold the possibility that something extraordinary can happen, where our presence together can become a catalyst for mutual healing, grounding, and deeply human interaction. 

Take, for example, the process of entering an exam room.  While I try to make it a habit of taking an intentional breath before opening the exam room door, it is easy to forget in the swirl of a busy clinical day.  This past week, I found myself consciously doing so (perhaps it was a bit more of a “heavy sigh”) before entering a room prior to an interaction for which I was experiencing some anticipatory dread.  You know the feeling.  But that single, intentional breath shifted something. When I entered the room and greeting the patient, I found the words “It’s good to see you” coming out of my mouth.  And as it turned out, it actually was.  A potential impersonal transaction instead somehow became a sacred space of connection, one where I showed up not only with my medical skills but also with a healing presence.

The same truth applies with colleagues. A simple check-in, such as “How’s your spirit today?” or “What’s weighing on you?” can shift an everyday hallway exchange into something more meaningful. Sacred space forms when we give someone our undivided attention, even briefly, inviting them to lay down whatever they’ve been carrying or offering to help carry it with them. Research on mindful awareness and interpersonal attunement confirms what we intuitively know: small moments of grounded attention improve connection, decrease perceived stress, and enhance trust on both sides of the interaction.

As I’ve practiced these small threshold transitions of quiet inward personal “preparation” before engaging others, I’m struck by how differently the day unfolds.  Challenges don’t disappear, but the meaning woven through them becomes more tangible.  Creating sacred space with another person reminds us that our work is fundamentally relational, built not just on expertise but on presence. In a profession where the pace can feel unforgiving, these sacred spaces can be a subtle, steady antidote to exhaustion.

So this week, when you check in with your PeerRx partner or another colleague, consider sharing a moment when you intentionally created sacred space with someone and invite them to share their experience as well.  These stories can serve as a reminder that such spaces can happen anywhere and are always available – one intentional breath, one mindful step, and one human connection at a time.