The secrets of mindfulness: Hold the swordplay. Act as a samurai.

f you've ever wondered how to cultivate inner peace in a frenetic business environment, there is a solution. It is the path of the true warrior and it is called mindfulness. Do not let fears from past traumas hold you back. Fearlessness is as relevant to your life as it was to the samurai. The samurai of old combatted the same issues we each have faced such as addiction, body issues, relationship problems, and the inability to tell ourselves the truth. No human is exempt from these dilemmas. We do have a choice however on how we handle our challenges. This is where positive psychology puts you on the path to well-being.

How to sharpen your blade and move with grace

I honed this valuable lesson while living in Andhra Pradesh with a remarkable man. You never knew what he would do or say. What he did show anyone who came to see him with an open heart was the meaning of truth. The key to his teachings was mindfulness. All passed from the light in His eyes, transmitting to the seeker an experience of their own awareness.

The tactics masters use are endless. Some give discourses. Some teach techniques on breathing, and others teach in a pool of silence. Ramana Maharshi was such a master.

To move with the grace of a samurai requires total honesty. Do not fret or beat up on yourself. Accept the present moment as it is pregnant with possibilities. Samurai know that mindfulness is a path to sanity. It does not pretend or invent fantasy to soothe a fragile ego. It uses the humus of experience to let us cultivate and germinate the "right" seeds of behaviour. The fruits of our labour are reaped in my time, not in an instant.

"They are forever free who renounce all selfish desires and break away from the ego cage of "I", "me", and "mime". - Bhagavad Gita, 2:71

Someone in the audience will certainly think, why is this guy boring me to tears with zen? I'm only interested in swaps, hedge funds, productivity, and innovation so I can make zillions.

For those of us, who see there is a life beyond lucre, mindfulness has the power to help us increase our concentration as well as our decision-making authority. Believing in ourselves is positive psychology 101. You don’t need a job title or an Ivy League education to do this. Just imagine your best self as a first step forward.

Where does the power of mindfulness come from?

The power of mindfulness is timeless. Many cultures have taught this path of being. Although cultural circumstances can differ, all masters agree that the true path of mindfulness has no dogma, anyone can practice and it originates from an innate space inside your heart. The master's role is to show us and let us experience this space and state of mind.

When activated it puts things in perspective and gives us the management tools we thought we never had. You will never learn this at Harvard. You can however grasp its magnificence sitting at the foot of Arunachala mountain with the breeze blowing through your hair.

Mindfulness has the pregnant power to take away our anxiety and root out ignorance. Harnessed effectively and in truth, you discover that self-worth has nothing to do with net worth. You become who you were meant to be, namely yourself. It does not matter what career path you have chosen. Every warrior must stretch her or his capabilities. Experiencing inner peace will allow you to step out from the maddening crowd with authenticity.

Once you recognise your self-worth, you will find yourself empowered. Be true to your Self and change your corner of the world. The choice is yours: victimhood or empowerment. The world is at war whether we like it or not. The way of the warrior is beyond swordplay and rests in clarity and love for all living beings. Best of all, it is your natural right to claim the benefits because it represents your true nature. Remember, nobody can ever take away your dignity unless you give it to them. As the great Zen master, Basho once said: "Food for thought".

About the author

Andrew Scharf is an Award-Winning MBA Admissions Consultant and also offers ?? Executive Coaching ?? He is widely recognised for helping top performers and aspiring professionals be all they can be. His?mission is to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world at Whitefield Consulting.