Mindfulness

In the workplace, practicing mindfulness can be one of the most important and strategic things you do for yourself. This daily practice of mindfulness does not have to be meditation and breath work. It can be a continually active declaration of your intention.

Think of a specific challenge or scenario that you are facing today. With this as your context, imagine the following steps:

1)????? Define your desired goal or outcome. Define what exceeding your goal would look like and what missing the mark would look like. It is better to set a range of parameters so you can acknowledge your success or, if needed, give yourself a bit of grace.

2)????? Adopt a directional mindset, rather than a strictly linear one. Whatever the goal is, compare your actions and plans to this ideal outcome. You may find that certain things that you are attached to do not align with your desired outcome.

3)????? Be accountable for how you show up to others. This highlights the fact that you may need to adjust your behavior to accomplish your desired outcome. Additionally, you are accountable for how you need to be to work best with the people you will need to accomplish your goal. How people receive you will greatly impact your results.

4)????? Practice listening. In relationships you will miss the warnings and roadblocks if you are not listening. People show up in all sorts of ways and the more you can take in your surroundings, the better opportunity you have to gain knowledge needed to successfully navigate circumstances.

5)????? Slow down and live in the flow. This means being flexible. When change happens, don’t simply react. Slow down and assess your variables before acting. If you have a difficult time with pivoting, you become your own roadblock.

6)????? Seek opportunity. People are not always ‘lucky,’ they actively seek opportunities when others are not. Ask for things big and small. Ask for help.

Now when you run through your personal scenario, there is purpose and intent behind every action. These steps take your focus off the ritual of completing job tasks and redirect your focus to the how and why of the outcome and results. It is being conscious and aware of your behavior. That is at the very center of what mindfulness is.