MEDITATION AND THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY (RELATIVELY SPEAKING)

A lot of people think-- without really knowing anything about meditation-- that, “It’s not for me”. In the several pieces that preceded this, I’ve attempted to close the education gap and write about the specifics of meditation. Whether any of those previous pieces were read, or understood-- and whether they will change any minds-- remains to be determined.

In fairness, the decision whether or not to adopt the practice of meditation is not something anyone should rush into, and education as to the what’s and why’s is only a beginning. The ultimate decision is certainly an individual call, but our institutions can have a material impact-- by affording workers an opportunity.

An opportunity for what? One response would be, an opportunity to be more mindful and purposeful about how and why we work. And how might we do that? My suggestion would be reflection through mindfulness and meditation which would be, of course, an individual decision.

Why would an institution care about an individual decision? And why would an institution afford an opportunity for individuals to learn about mindfulness or perhaps make time for, meditation? In a word: Wellbeing.

Wellbeing is something that benefits not only the institution and the individual, but just as importantly, it also benefits the clients that the institution and individual serve. In colloquial parlance, that’s called a win-win scenario (or, if the awareness of wellbeing continues to be marginalized-- as it is in far too many institutions-- a lose-lose scenario).

One might go so far as to say that the issue of worker wellbeing is not a relative proposition-- wellbeing is a mission-critical part of an institution’s commercial and professional success-- and both mindfulness and meditation are important components of a balanced, meaningful wellbeing initiative.

Einstein’s theory of relativity is something I don’t pretend to understand, but it has drawn attention (certainly, my attention) to the general notion of relativity-- even with respect to things that are not relative. Like wellbeing.

When we’re well, we function in a way that is the best we are capable of functioning. When we’re not well, we don’t. It’s not all that complicated, and we don’t have to be another Einstein to figure out that much.

Mindfulness and meditation are both components of a comprehensive wellness initiative and their importance isn’t relative, in the least. Mental fitness is every bit as important as physical fitness, and economic fitness or any other kind of fitness.

Wellbeing is an individual choice, but thoughtful institutions understand the value of the individuals they employ. Why wouldn’t they also care about the choices of the individuals they employ? Why wouldn’t they encourage choices that would benefit both them, as well as their clients/customers?

There is nothing relative about an individual’s wellbeing, and there is no institutional imperative against which the concern of worker wellbeing should be compared. It’s a shame that more business leaders don’t recognize that simple fact, and act on it.

Relativity may carry some sway in debates about the passage of time or other workings of the cosmos, but it has no place in any conversation about wellbeing.