How Meditation and LSD Helped Me Coexist with Colleagues in the Workplace

Anyone who has experienced the transcendental calm of meditation or the creative expansiveness of LSD knows the initial aversion it brings towards the everyday world of work.

It's as if the daily grind—work, success, profit—appears as something fundamentally repulsive.

Work is repulsive.

Success is repulsive.

Profit and money are repulsive.

From this aversion sprout philosophies that envision a world without labor, without competition.

A world of harmony.

Life, with all its complexities, doesn't always permit such an escape.

If you, like me, lack financial freedom, you must confront life's demands: work, compete, and struggle.

In that struggle, a transformation occurs.

I came to realize this, especially when asked about resolving conflicts with colleagues on LinkedIn. Reflecting on my journey, I understood that meditation and LSD didn't merely provide an escape; they helped me navigate the workplace with greater clarity, understanding, and patience.

Here are the steps I follow, based on this unique combination of practices:

Step 1: Self-Reflection

Meditation and LSD have taught me the value of taking a moment to pause before reacting.

When faced with a conflict, I step back.

Is this a pattern?

Have I misunderstood something?

Repeated clashes with colleagues often signal more about my state of mind than theirs.

Reflection helps me reset and approach the situation with a fresh perspective.

Step 2: Neutral Observation

Inspired by Pauline Oliveros' "deep listening," I learned the art of being a neutral observer.

Rather than reacting to every slight or issue, I envision myself watching life unfold like a series on Netflix.

I observe the drama and characters without getting involved.

This straightforward practice helps me gain clarity and detach from unnecessary conflicts.

Step 3: Empathy

Through meditation and mind-expanding experiences, I've cultivated the ability to step into others' shoes.

I imagine their lives, struggles, and joys.

Understanding colleagues from this perspective often reduces tension. It's not just about solving every problem but about embracing empathy as a natural way of interacting.

I've discovered that even when challenges remain, I feel more mature and grounded. Each day serves as a lesson in human emotions, growth, and connection.

The Dark Side of Meditation in the Workplace

As powerful as meditation and LSD can be, integrating them into professional life comes with challenges:

Dark Side 1: Slower Progress

When living a multidimensional life experience, each moment can be rich with meaning. You may find that your career growth is slower than others.

Focusing solely on profit and success is easier, but when work becomes a journey of learning and balance, the pace of progress feels different.

Dark Side 2: Creative Frustration

The meditative state may be frustrating in typical work environments if you are not in a leadership position.

While visionary leaders like Steve Jobs utilized LSD for innovation, regular employees may find that the mundanity of everyday tasks stifles the creativity it brings.

Dark Side 3: Hallucinations of Conspiracy

LSD can occasionally cause feelings of paranoia or a sense of being involved in a grand conspiracy.

In my early experiences, I believed that even my colleagues were conspiring against me.

These exaggerated fears highlight the need for balance—between insight and reality, between creativity and groundedness

A Final Word on Balance

Balance is the key to life, work, and personal growth.

Maturity is not found in extremes but in the balance between competing forces. It lies in balancing ambition with contentment, material gain with spiritual richness, and creativity with practicality—this forms the essence of personal and professional harmony.

LSD and meditation can reveal profound wisdom, but they also show us that achieving balance is the greatest challenge and the most meaningful success.

Feel free to share your experiences with me or explore more of my work on meditation and LSD on my Medium account:

https://medium.com/@ahmedshehap2011

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