Mindfulness and Culture: Unlocking Creativity and Deeper Connections

In today’s complex and rapidly evolving business landscape, success is not just about numbers and strategies—it's about people. It's about fostering genuine connections, encouraging creativity, and bringing our whole selves to work. One powerful way to achieve this is by drawing insights from culture and art, which offer profound lessons on connectivity, mindfulness, and resilience.

As someone deeply invested in both the cultural and professional spheres, I believe that the rich tapestry of human experience—our stories, traditions, and artistic expressions—can profoundly inform how we approach business. These elements teach us about the importance of community, the value of listening deeply, and the need to adapt while honoring our roots. This is why I’m motivated to bring these insights to LinkedIn, a platform where we often focus solely on the professional aspects of our identities.

By integrating these cultural and artistic perspectives into our business thinking, we can cultivate environments where creativity thrives, connections deepen, and innovation is not just possible but inevitable. When we embrace our whole selves—our history, our art, our culture—we enrich our professional lives in ways that resonate far beyond the workplace.

In the following post, I explore how a recent cultural experience, "Bittersweet Kola Nut," led by Dr. Yéwándé Okùl??y?, beautifully demonstrates the intersection of culture, mindfulness, and connectivity, and how these concepts can be applied to enhance both personal and professional relationships.

Presence is time gone by. Time, where have you gone? We just stepped out for a minute, And our day was done. Mind time mined. Reflective echoes, We call you back three times threefold, Over coals and across thresholds, To become close to us. Our goal becomes one. ?Yewande Okuleye 2024

With these evocative words, Dr. Yéwándé Okùl??y? led us into a call-and-response sonic journey—a transformative experience rooted in her deep understanding of Yorùbá indigenous health practices. As a polymath and Yorùbá wise woman, she crafted a community sonic intervention that interwove themes of mindfulness, active listening, and connectivity.

This unique event, framed within the REinsTate initiative—dedicated to reclaiming and revitalizing abandoned spaces through community engagement and cultural infusion—was more than just a gathering; it was a communal meditative reimagining.

Once a human hub of vibrant life, Now silent, in disuse, A relic of forgotten times, A flower, wilted, loose. Re-member. Hearts old and new now seek to breathe again, To fill these walls with light, With love and warmth, and hands entwined, across time. re-member to banish endless night. A space reborn with tender care ,where people like us can find their face. A space reborn, with tender care, where people like you and I can find their place. A space reborn with tender care,where people like me find their pace. Peace connected in a shared embrace, New life within this space. And so it is so. ?Yewande Okuleye 2024

Dr. Okùl??y?’s rich, resonant voice guided us through a journey of mindfulness, reflection, and meditation. She invoked the essence of plants and animals from the African savannah as symbols of our connectedness to the more-than-human world. We were invited to imagine standing tall beside a Baobab tree, to hear the soft rustle of giraffes feeding on the leaves, and to feel the low rumbles of elephants as they strip the bark for moisture. This deep connection to nature relaxed our minds and bodies, preparing us for the communal call-and-response known as the Voice Verse Ensemble.

It was within this contemplative space that we were introduced to the poem Bittersweet Kola Nut. The verses, which we listened to and repeated, honored the spiritual, herbal, and communal gifts of the kola nut—delving into themes of heritage, resilience, and the bittersweet nature of cultural preservation. The kola nut, with its duality of bitterness and sweetness, became a powerful metaphor for the complexities of power and the journey toward a harmonious future. As the Voice Verse Ensemble commenced, the air filled with a rich tapestry of sound. A chorus of voices, each distinct yet harmoniously intertwined, wove together a narrative that transcended time and space.

Drawing on the collective memory of Yorùbá traditions, we held and passed the kola nut, chanting with short and long breaths:

Hand to hand, we gently share, A gesture filled with love and care, Through you, our spirits boldly dare, To forge a bond beyond compare. ?Yewande Okuleye 2024

Bittersweet Kola Nut paid homage to the lineage of Yorùbá healing wisdom women, from whom Dr. Okùl??y? derives her profound knowledge, ancestral heritage, and inspiration. This event was a celebration of their legacy—women whose practices and teachings have nurtured generations and sustained the health and spiritual well-being of their communities. Dr. Okùl??y? stands as a contemporary torchbearer of this ancient lineage, using her platform to honor their contributions and ensure their wisdom resonates in the modern world. The Voice Verse Ensemble was not only an artistic endeavor but also a tribute to the enduring power and relevance of Yorùbá healing traditions.

In this homage to ancient technologies and the enduring presence of African women healers, we recognize that our histories—though often absent from Eurocentric narratives—are not lost. They live on, deeply embedded within our individual and collective bodies. These intangible health interventions passed down through generations, resonate within us, carrying the wisdom of our ancestors. In every breath and every heartbeat, the echoes of these absent histories remind us that they are very much present, alive in our practices, our resilience, and our spirits. Paying it forward to Africa and its Diaspora. The gift is ours to recognize, respect, and revitalize.

I thank everyone who came with curiosity, a sense of adventure, and generosity of spirit to be part of the Voice Verse Ensemble. We created moments of connection as one participant shared:

We were all water, all river, all sea - moving and flowing in unison like a beautiful majestic creature, to the rhythm of a drumming.

Relevance to Professional and Personal Lives

The themes explored in Bittersweet Kola Nut hold significant relevance for both professional and personal lives. Mindfulness and active listening are essential skills in any workplace, fostering better communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence. By embracing these practices, professionals can foster more harmonious and productive environments. The focus on connectivity and community-building encourages individuals to forge deeper connections within their networks, cultivating a sense of belonging and mutual support. Attempting to compartmentalize health into separate professional and private spheres is not only impractical but also detrimental to overall well-being. In her influential paper, "The Weathering Hypothesis and the Health of African-American Women and Infants: Evidence and Speculations," Dr. Aline Geronimus writes:

Health is a reflection of one's lived experience across both personal and professional domains. The chronic stress of navigating systemic inequities in all areas of life—be it in the workplace or within the community—cannot be compartmentalized without serious repercussions for both physical and mental health.

Research in occupational health psychology, such as that by Stanford Professor Jeffrey Pfeffer in Dying for a Paycheck, highlights the dangers of neglecting the holistic nature of health, emphasizing that a fragmented approach can lead to burnout, decreased mental health, and reduced productivity. Instead, integrating professional and personal well-being is crucial for maintaining a balanced and healthy life.In this context, the principles of mindfulness and active listening become essential tools for enhancing both professional and personal relationships, fostering deeper connections, reducing stress, and promoting mutual understanding.

How can we, then, leverage mindfulness and active listening to cultivate more meaningful and productive relationships in all areas of our lives?

Bittersweet Kola Nut is more than just a communal experience; it is a transformative journey that bridges the past and present, honoring the wisdom of Yorùbá healing traditions while offering insights into modern living. Dr. Yéwándé Okùl??y?’s masterful weaving of sound, heritage, and mindfulness serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring relevance of these ancient practices. As participants immerse themselves in the Voice Verse Ensemble, they are not only paying homage to the lineage of Yorùbá healing wisdom women but also cultivating essential skills that can enhance their professional and personal relationships. By embracing the principles of mindfulness, active listening, and connectivity, we are inspired to foster deeper connections, both within ourselves and with the world around us, ultimately leading to a more harmonious future.

All that you touch, you change. All that you change, changes you. Octavia Butler (1947–2006.