It is 2:30 PM and the CEO is talking about the bottom line of the company. He is a great man, very reasonable and smart. Every month, all people in the team join this presentation and meet to learn about the health of the company. In this particular day, I am also present in the meeting and all I can think of is the status of my bottom line as a human being and the fact that I have to find the time to write this post.
I was happy to see that the company is doing extremely well and that people seem to be content with their responsibilities and overall benefits.
One thing I noticed is that ALL of them appear to be extremely anxious and perhaps overstressed. I noticed that although all seem to smile and even make jokes, their energy level is low and their comments tend to carry a very subtle yet loud voice that says: “I am very stressed out and I don’t know how to manage my stress.”
As I was observing everyone in the meeting, I remembered that about three weeks ago I attended a conference about mindfulness and the direct relation to stress. I have the privilege to meet David Gelles, the author of Mindful Work. Although we talked briefly, our 15 minutes conversation was compelling enough for me to commit to 5 minutes of daily mindfulness practice, particularly at work.
During the meeting, each manager was talking about his or her department. I decided to make a quick and drastic decision. Instead of talking about the results of the new implementations in the safety division of the company; I decided I was going to talk about the meaning of mindfulness.
Also, I decided to briefly explain how we can all benefit and raise our bottom line by immediately practicing basic exercises and allowing the practice to build on its own. In summary, I gave them three primary ways to do it.
1. Be Happy: We don’t have to wait for a particular event or culmination or reaching a goal or event. There is a way to enjoy the journey by experiencing happiness through progress. Yes, Progress makes Happiness. Allow yourself to be aware of your tiny moments of progress and indulge yourself in the incredible sensation of fulfillment it brings to our experience. Feel it, and be aware of the relaxation of your face and muscles around your neck when you accomplish your small goals. Takes a little practice but with consistency, you will develop the right amount of mindfulness, and it will be easier to expand it to other areas of life.
2. The Superhero Stand: This is fun. Next time you feel you are getting bit up but the demands of your life and job; take a moment to stop and stand with legs spread apart, arms on hips, elbows bent. This superhero stance projects power. Notice how immediately your energy begins to raise. While holding this pose, begin to inhale as deep as you can and exhale as long as you can. Do this for about 3 minutes. Studies show that practicing this stand alters your levels of testosterone and makes you feel energized, decisive and powerful. What a treat for mindfulness!
3. Take breaks: Notice how refresh you will fell when you make the decision to stop everything and bring full attention to yourself. By making the decision of taking a mini vacation, you will feel renewed and more centered and focused and ready to enter back into high production more. Noticing this change is an exercise of pure mindfulness.
Allowing yourself opportunities for inner growth, spiritual expansion and through the incredible power of free will, next time you exercise your right to make a change aimed to benefit your beautiful self, you will indeed boost your bottom line, not only mental but emotional and physical.
Consider joining a mindfulness meditation class and experience a different level of awareness.
What do you do to cope with your stress?
