Redefining Failure and Success in Community Building

Today, I’m happy to introduce the Rev. Mike Travisano, an ordained Buddhist priest, (Oshō) mindfulness instructor, and integrative group therapy facilitator for an intensive outpatient program for adolescents and young adults. Mike is also the founder of The Art of Monday Morning, a company that provides mindfulness instruction to individuals and organizations.

In this episode, you’ll hear Mike’s story of starting a Monday evening group in partnership with Mt. Calvary Episcopal Church in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. The Dragonfly Sanga is a weekly Buddhist Mindfulness and Meditation community meeting on Mondays at 6:30 pm. Sensei Tony also hosts a virtual session on YouTube on Mondays at 6:30 pm.

Mike spent most of his career working in tech software, but his life took a turn in 2020 when he joined the seminary to become an ordained Buddhist priest. Over two years, he studied and wrote about his thoughts and understanding of Buddhism. He finishes with a “plunge,” which allows students to choose their path toward how they will implement their training. Working with those seeking help, Mike began providing support through mindfulness counseling.

To give context to the community, Mike explains the Three Jewels: (1) Buddha: The Teacher, (2) Dharma: The Teachings, and (3) Sangha: The Community. He started the Monday evening services in 2022 to give people a place to take refuge and learn helpful tools. The magic of community is beneficial for balance; it’s not only about Mike’s achievements or abilities but also about talking about the practices together.

To build the group, he contacted the existing Buddhist community, sent emails, and shared events on Meetup. He started the group on Meetup and then told people about it. Over the past two years, on average, about 12 people have come consistently, sometimes more and sometimes less. Mike says he wants to “be cool” with whatever happens.

The community has grown over the years and has transformed from people who don’t know each other to people who spend time together, support each other, and are there in times of need. Mike said the community will always be free.

The Art of Monday Morning is his business arm. As he describes it, he provides mindfulness services to organizations, companies, and individuals. He says he works with those who want to sharpen their skills and dive deeper.

Mike left his full-time job in 2023 to focus on his client work with The Art of Monday Morning. In addition, he has been working as a contractor for Charlie Health, an intensive telehealth outpatient program for adolescents and adults.

“Start to imagine that there is no such thing as failure; just redirection,” Mike tells community builders. He says that if no one shows up to an event, it doesn’t mean it failed; it just means the condition wasn’t aligned. “Go into it [community building] to set this up as the thing I would most want to come to and play that as best as you can. See failure, not as failure but as redirection.”

In the future, Mike plans to host a virtual Sunday morning session beginning in late September. If you are interested in the virtual gathering, please go to Mike’s website: https://www.theartofmondaymorning.com/. To learn more about Mike, connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/michael-travisano-7b30a733/.

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