The Importance of Pausing

Meditation has been in the background of my life for as long as I can remember – my father and grandmother both practiced it as part of their regular routines – and I was always around it. 

About 25 years ago, my marriage brought me across the world from India to the United States, a monumental shift in my life. I left behind a successful career and couldn’t find a job here due to my visa status. I also came to the tough realization that my husband and I were not meant for each other and made the difficult decision to separate from him – with no job. 

That is when I leaned on the practice that had always been in my periphery. I realized then the value of having an internal compass that would help me despite uncertain, tumultuous, or unreliable circumstances. Since this pivotal moment in my life, meditation has been foundational in my development as a person, as a teammate, and as a leader. 

Infusing My Practice in the Workplace

Years after this day, I found myself in a brain fog at an all-day work offsite and needing to reorient my mind. I asked the group I was with if anyone would like to join me in a quick, three-minute meditation, unsure of what to expect. The response was overwhelmingly positive that day, so I began trying it regularly with my own team. Now, I try to save the first three to five minutes of staff meetings for mindfulness and meditation; my colleagues have even asked me to lead mini sessions at their respective offsites. Last year, I even earned my certificate in teaching meditation.

Meditation is such a personal experience, but by sharing it with colleagues, I find it has helped me bring my whole self to work. It has helped me feel steady, it has helped me pause and be truly present for my bosses, for my team, for my work and for myself. I feel this is so important to building a team culture of innovation and creativity – after all, research conducted by the University of Exeter, and further research published in the journal Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, found that not bringing one’s whole self to work can lead to lower job satisfaction, reduced commitment and, ultimately, pursuing other opportunities. I am immensely grateful that I work at a place where I am encouraged to bring my whole self to work, and I strive to create that encouraging environment for my team as well.

Recognizing Moments to Re-center

As this #MentalHealthAwareness Month comes to end, I have been thinking about meditation even more deeply. It’s no secret that the past two years have taken a toll on everyone, and now a recent Adobe survey has shown that employees are anxious about returning to a physical office. Many are feeling incredibly burnt out with no real end in sight. I can understand and relate to much of this. I want to encourage everyone to allow themselves to pause and take a few minutes – before the day starts, prior to a big meeting, in the middle of the day, or when you are feeling drained – to pause. 

Whether it’s meditation, spending time in nature like my colleague and friend Maria Yap, some time with your pet, or anything in-between, I want to advocate for each of us taking some time to mentally, physically and spiritually express yourselves during the work day. I think our health, happiness – and work – will thrive if we do.