Relax ... and Embrace the Shift

"The process of change is called evolution." Vocabulary.com. Evolution is as natural as breathing. It is best to embrace evolution, yet we often resist. That resistance causes suffering. This is why we meditate – to protect ourselves from the human experience of suffering. Meditation cultivates acceptance of what is. When we accept, we no longer resist. Instead, we embrace the shift.

I'd like to share a story of how I embraced my shift.?

I began meditating in June 2019. I remember the day vividly and have shared the story on stages as a Keynote Speaker & Mindfulness Instructor through my company Mindful Culture Creators. Fast forward 3 years later to June 2022, and I graduated from student to teacher, leading a mindfulness community with over 500 members and programming delivered to over 5000 people globally. I was adjusting to my newfound mission and shift into leading and teaching mindfulness and meditation, but there was plenty of resistance. I still had my 9-5 job – a big one at that, as a VP for a Fortune 100 bank.?

Then, 3 years later, my life changed. I'll never forget that day, June 29, 2022. The day began normally – zoom meeting after Zoom meeting. Two of the meetings stood out – 1 was a meeting with the African American Men's group at my employer. I was facilitating a workshop teaching black men how to use mindfulness as a problem-solving tool to address their specific life challenges, and this was the meeting I was most excited about that day.?

The other meeting that stood out was my video 1 on 1 with my manager and mentor, Greg. I've had a lot of managers in my life, and a lot of mentors. But none like Greg. The epitome of "black excellence", Greg was a symbol of authenticity and mentorship. I respected him. I valued his wisdom, and I enjoyed being a member of his team. As much as I adored Greg, I wasn't looking forward to my one on one with him that day. My passion for mindfulness was overtaking my life and my work, and I was behind on a few work deliverables. I knew that Greg would challenge me to step my game up. To make matters worse, I was 6 minutes late to my meeting with him because my mindfulness meeting ran over. My focus was shifting. When Greg appeared on screen, he was a bit sterner than normal. He let me know I should have NOT skipped the audit meeting (oops – I had a mindfulness session, LOL), and that I needed to dig deeper into the details of my projects, vs being so high level (ugh…I thought lol). There was more re-directive feedback than normal, but as always, Greg was fair and balanced in his approach to coaching me. And then, his voice slowed down really… slowly, almost like the sound of slow motion on a camera phone. Watching him intensely, I noticed his jaw drop a bit. I called his name several times but he didn't respond. That is when it became clear that he was in the middle of a medical emergency. I was near panic, but I distinctly remember a strong sense of calm and focus. Within seconds, my eyes glanced down to the bottom of my screen, and the 1st name I saw was Olivia, Greg's assistant. I immediately grabbed my phone and called her. I knew she would have his address and his wife's phone number so that someone could assist him. She answered, notified his wife, and I stayed on video while they tried to revive him. As horrified as this was, I embraced and accepted what was happening – that I was watching my manager, mentor, role model, and just one of the kindest and most authentic people I'd ever had in my 20-year career, die. He passed away that day at the age of 63.

Witnessing someone go from loving you through feedback to taking their last breath in a span of 15 minutes is the teacher I didn't ask for, and the teacher I needed. I'd spent the last 3 years training my focus, calm, and acceptance through mindfulness. Those were the skills I needed at that moment to be there for Greg. To assist him in his most vulnerable moment – the transition from life to death. I could have been hysterical and stuck. But I wasn't. As hard as that moment was, I embraced it as a moment that I had been preparing for my entire life. Greg spent his last words trying to make ME better. How could I remain sad at such an honor? Awareness of this truth turned out to be the catalyst I needed to fully embrace my calling and teach what I know.?

What do I know?

I know the answer to the question "Why should we meditate?". We meditate because we are human. To me, that's as simple as it gets. I learned this from the book Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Gunaratan. As humans, we will always experience something that will cause our minds to spiral into states of fear and survival mode. AKA resisting the shift. Meditation helps us cultivate the focus to remain present and alert. It helps you wish?less?that you are somewhere else, and accept?more?that you are here.?

My "here" is the space of my passion, and being in the space of my passion is a change that I am finally thrilled to embrace. Since that fateful day on June 29, 2022, I've taken a workplace sabbatical to focus on my passions and my healing. I've been on shamanic journeys, downsized my lifestyle, and begun a spiritual path that has led to interviews, and sharing my story on stages in front of hundreds of people. Embracing the shift means I do everything with intention, even if I am doing nothing. I savor life. I don't wait for weekends and holidays to live. Even in the mundane,?I live the life I love, and I love the life I live.?I'm in the best physical, mental, and spiritual shape of my life. I'm living in my purpose as a speaker and healer, and I am surrounded by incredible role models and success stories. People who embrace the shift… over and over. Getting here may have been dark, but I am so happy I made it.?

Acceptance is a path to freedom. Freedom is no fear. Embrace the shift and accept the evolving nature of life as it is. When you do, you will find more moments of joy, peace, and fulfillment.?

If you'd like to help your organization or community embrace the shift through mindfulness and meditation, email me at?[email protected] . Follow me on social media to learn about free public events aimed at teaching mindfulness as a skill for life. Through Mindful Culture Creators, I combine traditional practice techniques with modern, culturally relevant experiences, like live music and movement. But don't take my word for it. Mindfulness is not something you learn. Mindfulness is something you experience. Join me, and let's experience it together. Peace???

Top Three Things I Learned During My Shift:

1. Life is truly fragile - and that is not a bad thing. Fragile just means that something takes a new form. Embrace the fragility with the awareness that NOTHING stays the same.

2. The more we deal with the source of our fears, the greater we accept things as they are. Acceptance is a path to freedom.

3. Mindfulness is preparation for your shift. It helps you achieve the mindset capable of embracing YOUR shift.

Reflection Questions and & Journal Prompts:

How do you embrace change in your life? What emotions, feelings, thoughts, and physical sensations appear at the thought of a big change occurring in your life? Does fear show up at the thought of change? Why or why not?