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I know my post title has most likely left you asking “huh?” Bear with me, let
me begin by asking you this:
Are you capable of thinking about absolutely nothing for merely 5 minutes? This means all those wandering thoughts must be shushed. Go ahead, try it.
Odds-are your subconscious steps in and interrupts with “to-dos” perhaps
“what ifs.” Do you ever feel as if you
are living through life stuck in autopilot?
If you identify with any of what I have just discussed you are living mindlessly. Are you willing
to carve out 10 minutes, possibly 20 minutes of your day to experience life
differently? Are you willing to meditate? Alright, wait! Do not answer that yet!
You may be asking "what is meditation?"
Meditation is the transformation from autopilot to mindful living. It is a simple tactic yet difficult to master. Meditation is an activity of our minds and body. When assuming a specific gesture with your body and a concentration of our minds “we experience a comfort and relaxation that will reveal ever deeper insights into our true nature” (Johnson, 1996, p. 4). Some of industries top leaders are avid masters of meditation. Phil Jackson, former LA Lakers coach. Steve Jobs, recently deceased co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc. Surprising huh?How do I meditate?
It is really rather simple. You won't break a sweat. While there are many different forms of meditation a common
one for beginners is called mindful breathing meditation. Follow these steps:
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- Find a quiet space that will allow you no interruptions for the duration of the practice. Choose a chair or the floor. Sit. If you prefer a chair, feet flat on the ground, back straight against the back of the chair. Let your spine straighten and your head to reach the sky.
- Cross your legs preferably allowing your knees to be lower than your pelvis. Close your eyes, gently. Place your hands comfortably in your lap or perhaps on your knees, palms up. Most importantly, be comfortable.
- Gently breathe in and out through your nose. Feel the pattern of your breath's natural course.
- As you become concentrated on your breathing your subconcious will begin its course. When you hear random thoughts creeping in simply revert back to your breathing.
- Continue this as long as you can.
Simple enough?
You just performed mental maintenance. The benefits of it are astounding both individually as well as in business
(I'll get into that more later).
Before you listen to the skepticism lurking in your subconscious understand the power of the mind, your mind. Have you ever heard the term...
“Placebo Effect?”
Now that you have some understanding (or you could say 'proof') of how powerful your mind is, meditation can channel that power. Employing that power into business proves many advantages. But I'll leave that for next time. I have to give you a reason to return right?
Do not simply exist in routine but be alive, awake, and aware.
References
Johnson, W. (1996). Introduction. In W. Johnson, The
Posture of Meditation (p. 2). Boston: Shambhala Publications, Inc. .
Wow, I like your images! What is causing those dots to pop up on them that link to more information? Very cool and great info!
ReplyDeleteHi Derek Zee, thank you for visiting my blog. I hope to see you in the future as well. To answer your question I created my pictures through a site called Stipple. Check out the link https://stipple.com/
DeleteWhat a great blog! I absolutely adore your opening statement!! You're absoluetly right...meditation is something that I rarely contemplate in my strategic business ventures. After reading your descriptive informational post I think I may "try this @ home!" Following my long days, meditation sounds like the perfect ending! I look forward to reading your next posting!
ReplyDeleteThanks Rachel for visiting my blog, hope to hear from you again, as always! :)
DeleteMeditation is not a difficult practice however it does take determination. The benefits truly outweigh the complexity. My goal here is to build awareness of the benefits meditation brings to business. From profit to a better understanding of your customer base. I look forward to sharing this practice with you.
I challenge ;) you to try to meditate for 5 minutes. Let me know how it goes!
Excellent information, Krystal. I believe in the placebo affect and often think when I go for acupuncture that it is the fact that I meditate for an hour or so that is really helping me to become grounded. I totally agree that to bring our subconscious back, we need to pay attention to our breathing. I am what you would call a breathing expert. I have so many panic attacks that I have learned to control most of them simply by deep breathing. Marvelous work!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouraging words! Meditation has brought such relief and a feeling of control to my life.
DeleteTo see this practice hit the career world would be, well, amazing!
Hi Krystal- I love your information! I've been meditating for years, and I love when I see more people doing it. What's interesting is how many organizations are also incorporating these concepts into employee wellness programs. Ex- At my organization, employee's are invited to weekly "mindfullness meditation" sessions throughout the workday (around breaks, like lunch). One of our well known faculty members obtained a masters degree in these types of practices, and our organization is backing her up by allowing her to host these sessions for staff. They see the value of it! How cool, right?
ReplyDeleteThe idea of corporate supporting meditation is great news. Thank you for sharing! With time I hope that business will begin to see the benefits of incorporating meditation into their day-to-day and people will become more mindful of today, the present. I look forward to hearing from you again. I hope you will continue to join me on my blog. :)
DeleteGreat post, Krystal! I've been trying to meditate for some time. The answer to your first question is a resounding,"No!! My mind won't be quiet for 10 seconds!" I look forward to reading more!
ReplyDeleteColleen! Colleen! You have given me a task, to make you meditate in addition (but most importantly) feel the benefits it reveals. I am testing you: Give yourself 15 minutes this evening, try it... Let me know how it goes. ;)
DeleteKrystal, my experience learning to meditate was so frustrating, and I am so glad I was able to overcome that frustration and learn to do it. It started with a business coach I was working with to build my business. She insisted that I needed to slow my mind down, and allow space for new thoughts to enter. Upon her suggestion, I tried each morning, for just a few minutes, to meditate. Initially it made me angry and very uncomfortable. I would start thinking about all the things in my life that were stressing me out-things that on a daily basis I was not thinking about because they were covered up by my constant state of being busy! So, it was a reality check. I had thought I was a calm, unstressed person but what I learned is that deep down I was reeling with so much on my mind that I could not keep straight. I gave up on the meditating at that point.
ReplyDeleteThen, a dressage instructor who I have trained my horses with for years, began holding amazing workshops that were designed to help us as riders become harmonious partners with our horses. Part of that process, she explained, was learning to meditate because it brings us down into a slower mental state-the one that horses exist in. She is a really bright woman who has a PhD in Philosophy and she brought philosophical discussion into our riding workshops. She explained that people exist in an alpha state of consciousness-the here and now, but that horses exist in the beta state of consciousness, and that the ONLY way we as riders were going to form true partnerships with our horses was to slow our minds, clear out heads, and get to that beta level where horses could understand us, communicate with us, and not fear us. How cool is that? So, from that point forward, I worked on meditation and am happy to say today I do it, and I really enjoy it. It has made a huge difference in my life. And yes, it has really changed my relationship with my horses! The instructor's name is Dr. Sherry Ackerman, and she is a long time mentor of mine. You can read more about these workshops on her blog here: http://sherryackerman.blogspot.com/.
Oh, I can relate! My subconscious never seemed to “bother” me until I tried to fall asleep. Hours would pass and my thoughts would not decease. Meditation was always a practice that I was curious about however a recent event in my life persuaded me to push that curiosity to action. Just like you for the first, week perhaps, I got frustrated put I always stayed consistent with ‘trying.’ It has been two months, twice a day, and I still have setbacks but in the end, I always feel better. I have become more at peace with myself as I have realized that with all the chaos life brings there is a comforting feeling to know ‘stillness’ continues to exist.
DeleteIf I may, has meditation brought any advantages to your business from the marketing perspective? Is meditation a practice you share with your clients in certain circumstances?
Thank you kindly for your reply and I look forward to hearing from you again.
Hi Krystal,
ReplyDeleteI have never had a discussion with my clients about meditation. But, meditating does create room in my mind for the free flow of ideas. It has allowed me to develop better creativity in my marketing decisions. And, it has most definitely allowed me to define exactly what it is that I wanted my business to be.
I do understand now, if we don't give our minds room to think, ideas will not flow and we will not grow intellectually.
Krystal,
ReplyDeleteI personally have tried to meditate to support my health and it is so difficult to do. To attempt to quiet every thought in your mind and just focus on breath is something that challenges me. I read a book called once that said the easiest way to get through meditation, especially if it is not something you have a lot of experience with, is to focus on your hands, or your feet. I found this helpful. I have to admit, I do not meditate but often find myself feeling the need to quiet my mind. I am glad that you have chosen such an interesting topic. I look forward to reading more about it.
Hey Laura,
DeleteYes, there is actually a meditation group up near me that teaches this tactic for beginners - you focus on a rock actually. For me personally I found it harder to focus as I would think about the rock - LOL - but I had also been meditating with my eyes closed for nearly 2 months. Perhaps that contributed to my difficulties. I hope you will give it another try Laura as building silence in your mind is remarkable once you become okay with doing nothing - which is harder said than done.
-Krystal
Krystal, I commented earlier to congratulate you on your excellent blog, but I don't think my comment was published. I'll try again, and just say how much I am enjoying your topic of meditation and mindfulness. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteMark
Thank you Mark! Meditation is a practice I hold dear and I am rather eager to see the many ways I can uncover its relations to business/social media in this course. It may be tricky but I think I am up for the challenge. All the encouraging words have proven to be very helpful!
DeleteI'm getting to the discussion late, but this is an excellent blog. Over the course of my career at my company we would have folks come in trying to teach us the things that you point out above. For my part, I always seem to make excuses not to do it - work, three kids, running every which at all hours, pets, the whole nine yards. In other words, all the reasons I should be meditating. I look forward to following this blog.
ReplyDeleteGeorge, you and I can relate on so many levels. I have two young children, two dogs and this chaotic life-school schedule... All reasons to support the idea of staying busy, there is always something I could be doing. I have fought with myself, and still do, to continue meditating. One of my weaknesses is I do miss days and I have seen the difference in myself when I do. For me this difference was enough to prove I have to stick with it. So far this is the longest thing I have stuck with for myself - no one else but me - and its hard be 'selfish' when you have children, a life, etc. I encourage you to try and I hope you will relay your experience on my blog!
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