Make 2024 The Year of Mindfulness

Welcome to Live, Work and Lead with Joy! I’m so glad you’re here. Biweekly, you’ll receive simple, practical insights to help you approach your leadership - and your life - with mindfulness, clarity, and joy.

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In our go-go-go culture, it’s easy to neglect our physical and mental wellbeing. There are only so many hours in the day, and the pressures of work and family can drain our ability to care for ourselves. There are a lot of ways to engage in self-care, but mindfulness meditation is my #1 go-to method.

If you’ve never heard of mindfulness, here’s a crash course.

Mindfulness is the state of being aware of the present moment, observing with detachment our thoughts, feelings and whatever is happening around us. From its ancient Buddhist roots, mindfulness is becoming popular in the West as a way to reduce stress, generate clear thinking, and bring peace, calm, and many other benefits to our busy lives. Mindfulness also involves acceptance, meaning that we refrain from judgment when paying attention to how we feel. There isn’t a “right” or “wrong” way to think or feel in a given moment. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment, rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future.

The word “mindfulness” has always struck me as being the opposite of what actually happens when we sit still and be mindful. In my humble opinion, and in my practice of mindfulness, when one is truly mindful, there is actually less mind involved. We become aware of the present because we do not have thoughts of the past or future cluttering our minds. In this awareness, our thoughts are not channeled or pigeonholed into life, work, family, or any of the other boxes we use to define our lives. The emptier our minds are, the more room there is for awareness. The more mindful we are - or actually the more mind-less - the more we are able to observe.

We master mindfulness just by being mindful, without the stress or concern about making it perfect. My mother Daisy used to sit in quiet time each morning. I loved to watch her, her back straight, hands nestled in her lap like two feathers, eyelids not closed, but just resting together. She was the epitome of peace, or so I thought. She shared with me once her frustration, as her mind was so busy, she just couldn’t quiet it. She sought counsel with Rev. Elma, her spiritual guide, who said, “Daisy. Just watch the thoughts passing by like clouds in the sky. Just watch them come and go. Don’t hold on to them. Just observe.”

Mindfulness in daily life as a state of being means just watching what’s happening without being attached. At work, be mindful. Watch. In this state of less mind, we can become empty. No need to be full of anything, just the need to BE. The less we attach ourselves to the mind, the more we can be.

This new year is a great time to start your mindfulness practice! All you need is to sit quietly for 10 minutes, comfortably seated, eyes closed, focusing on your breathing - today! If that feels difficult, that’s okay! Try for 1 minute, and then gradually work up to 10 minutes at each sitting.? Practice makes progress, and progress makes happiness.?

Wishing you and yours a mindful new year!

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If you want to know more about my work with leadership coaching, mindfulness training, or team strategy and culture facilitation, you can find it on my website or contact me directly at [email protected]

Marguerite Orane is dedicated to changing the way we live and work so that we do so with joy. She coaches leaders in realizing the value that joy and happiness at work bring to people and profits. With over 30 years in strategy consulting and general management, Marguerite’s commitment is to help leaders and their teams joyfully bring strategy to life to achieve their desired results.