“Internal obstacles are rarely discussed and often underplayed. Throughout my life, I was told over and over about the inequalities in the workplace and how hard it would be to have a career and family. I rarely heard anything, however, about the ways I might hold myself back. These internal obstacles deserve a lot more attention, in part because they are under our own control. We can dismantle the hurdles in ourselves today. We can start this very moment. ~ Sheryl Sandberg, “Lean In”
As a self-employed entrepreneur, I’ve searched for, read, and been given my share of professional and business advice. Through all this, there is one concept that stands out for me. Before gaining true success and happiness, you need to start with what Stephen Covey refers to in “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, as the “Inside-Out”approach. You begin with habits that cultivate your personal growth to experience a“Private Victory” – with this stage in place, you’re ready for your “Public Victory”. I teach mindfulness, so this approach made perfect sense. Why?
Although Mindfulness is billed as a stress reduction program, I’ve always felt that the relaxation and calm you gain from mindfulness comes almost as a by-product of the practice. The benefit of what feels like a reduction in stress, and an ability to be calm and relaxed comes from having good control over the mind – which is what mindfulness teaches you. This practice requires taking time to look inward to understand how the mind works and become aware of how it may be holding you back.Sheryl Sandberg is right when she mentions in her book “Lean In”, that “internal obstacles deserve a lot more attention”. We can dismantle the hurdles in ourselves: by focusing in, we lean in.
Here are four mindfulness concepts that can contribute to your personal growth and help you “Lean In”:
- Mindfulness trains you to pay attention.
Mindfulness can be defined as a way to learn to manage your attention. As the nature of the mind is to wander, it can for example, be thinking about the past or planning for the future. Without some training, it can be difficult to bring your mind into the present. How much does the mind wander? Studies show that for 47% of our waking hours, the mind is somewhere else other than the present. Having a good command over your attention means you can be more productive, more focused, more calm and more in control. William James, the Father of American psychology, pointed out that: “ The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another”. Success is built on the ability to manage one’s attention.
- Mindfulness helps you become more self-aware.
As you get better at managing your attention, your self-awareness naturally increases. Mindfulness helps you develop the ability to watch your thoughts and feelings and enables you to observe without having the mind react to every thought and judgment. In time, you can cultivate a broader sense of self-awareness to encompass your own mental processes and habits. Without self-awareness, your mind will react to every unconscious thought or feeling. Success is built on the ability to recognize when certain thoughts and behaviours are not working for you.
- Mindfulness helps you have more control over your thoughts and emotions.
Self-awareness is important for emotional intelligence (EI), although EI is more than just the ability to be self-aware. Awareness is the starting point, you also need to be able to regulate your emotions. Mindfulness teaches you to make a space between stimulus and response. With mindfulness, instead of just reacting to your feelings and emotions, you can observe and wait before responding. Creating a pause gives you time to reflect, you can think before you act. Success is built on the ability to use reflection in order to act and respond more skillfully.
- Mindfulness helps you see things more clearly.
The ability to take time and reflect helps you see things more clearly. In the “heat” of the moment, situations can feel more difficult because emotions tend to color and muddy your perception. When strong emotions run their course and feelings subside, situations always look different. It is only when you have had time to reflect, that you can choose an appropriate response. In sum, success is built on the ability to step back and see situations more clearly.
For upcoming Free Mindfulness Events and workshops please visit: http://mindsana.com/events/december-walkin-event/ or visit our website: www.mindsana.com for tips and guided meditations.