Creating a mindful culture
I’m sure you would have come across the word “mindfulness” a
lot of people I meet think it is something to do with meditation. Nevertheless,
practicing meditation isn’t a bad start however mindfulness is a lot more than
just sitting down closing your eyes and feeling like Buddha.
Have you lately caught yourself standing in a room thinking
why the hell did I come here? Or driving down the road on auto pilot? Or
brushing your teeth in the morning without even realising which side you have
already brushed? Or eaten your lunch at desk without even tasting a single
bite? I got you didn’t I ha ha… well Mindfulness in essence is opposite of
mindlessness.
There are two parts to mindfulness –
First, learning to focus and attention on one thing, and
being able to bring the attention back when distracted.
Second is about the
attitude you bring to paying attention i.e. being open, being focused and
interested in what you are doing.
Why suddenly mindfulness is a buzz in corporate culture rather
than in monasteries? It is due to the benefit it brings along with it. Imagine
if someone can become more creative, have higher levels of pattern-recognition,
greater confidence, greater motivation, greater focus and less anxiety
obviously they’re going to be more productive and valuable to the company.
So what are few simple ways to create mindful culture?
- Do one thing at a time and do it well
- Be aware of your mindlessness patterns
- Create a soft anchor to flip out of distractions
- Set a time limit for worry or anxiety
- Switch off for at least 10 mins every day
- Recharge your battery often
- Ask for help if you’re in stress
- Develop mindfulness as a skill
- Choose to do three things mindfully everyday like brushing your teeth.
- Choose to respond rather than react
- Learn to accept difficult experiences or changes
- Lastly, Nab’s new marketing punch line – “talk to yourself more”
As said earlier, mindfulness is like a muscle which gets
stronger and stronger with regular practice. Try the mindfulness app by smiling
mind to get started I find it best to switch off during my train trips. You can
find your own based on what works for you… happy minding.
“You can’t cross the sea by merely by standing and staring at the water – Rabindranath Tagore”
