What does mindfulness mean to you in 22?

There's nothing quite like challenges and adversity to shape our perceptions and to force self-reflection in hopes of better tomorrows. The past few years did just that for me and for many people still adjusting to pandemic life. It’s been almost two years since the jolt of the global pandemic hit everyone.

Kayaking and fishing on a local calm Concord pond (picture is above) in early November, I thought about the topic of mindfulness and how I can practice it more and hold myself accountable. Being out in the local waters has a very soothing effect on the muscles of the?brain. Your?mind will?be recharged and ready once you get that time for relaxation. When you go?kayaking, you?will?be?close?to nature too.

I pose a few questions for my mutual friends and connections here. How do you practice mindfulness during uncertain times ahead? How do you get the most out of current and new opportunities with a sense of purpose and your personal values? I'd be grateful and would welcome your thoughts.

Right now, I'm trying to live in the moment, be present, and listen more. Having the mental strength and ability to deal with the ups and downs of life, cope with challenges, and yet the ability to express gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. I keep reading about gratitude because it provides a more positive outlook on life and even physical benefits such as a reduction in the symptoms of stress. Especially as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday next week, we make a mental note to be more grateful.

If you Google "Mindfulness" you get 280 million hits, so there is no shortage of content, books, or blogs on its importance.

"Mindfulness?is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we're doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed?…."

The importance of a growth mindset I wrote about five years ago in a post called; Technology Changes Everything and after reading; What Having a “Growth Mindset” Actually Means by Carol Dweck. I think a growth mindset combined with mindfulness is a powerful recipe for success. The idea is that grit and intelligence are pliable, not innate. Everybody can and will get better at new subjects, new companies, old and new hobbies, or personal relationships. We really can accomplish so much more with time, practice, patience, and being mindful. People who have a growth mindset believe that even if they struggle with specific skills, their abilities are not set in stone. To briefly sum up the findings: "Individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others) have a growth mindset".

Practicing being present (Be Here Now ) and mindful while honoring healthy boundaries of staying true to yourself, loved ones, friends, and colleagues is my personal and professional goal in 22. If mindfulness is practiced today and in the future, it will help improve our mental state and personal life because true mindfulness makes us more vulnerable and curious. I remember hearing about this from Larry Senn , The Father of Corporate #Culture, at a Senn Delaney Culture Shaping workshop in 2014. He mentioned to reach your highest levels of performance, start with listening. He taught about the levels of listening openly to another and listening to what is being said with an open mind, without judgment and distraction. Or as a mindful leader and coach Lucia Luce Quinn , once taught when she was the CPO of Forrester , "listen until it hurts". This is very hard to do when it really hurts. Powerful ground rules for parents to follow, a better way to coach a new team, a useful tool for change management, and for a child carefully trying not to be distracted.

In 22, I will adapt, listen more, and grow without turning away from difficult situations. Active listening is hard for me and it's a learned technique often taught by mentors and leadership coaches. I know it can help me in all aspects of life, from work to personal relationships. It is the act of fully concentrating on what is being said, understanding it, responding to it if applicable, and then remembering it in the future.

I recommend an insightful book called; The Mindful Leader , a guide for those serious about effective, sustainable leadership. It's?by Michael Bunting , and it outlines the leadership qualities and attributes that are fostered by mindfulness. He outlines the leadership qualities and attributes that are facilitated by mindfulness.

"Technically, the word mindfulness originates in the Pali term "sati," which means "remembering," remembering where you are now. Because when we are not mindful, in other words, forgetful, we forget where we are. So, we can be walking along in a passage way or driving a car, and we forget that because we are lost in the mind.?The most basic mindfulness is remembering where you are, now.

Michael discusses the importance of cultivating a "beginner's mind" embracing the vulnerability of the situation, and seeing it as it is now with intense open-minded curiosity. For example, I love the way my son today looks at this same pond and has an enthusiastic and open-minded interest in what kind of other carnivorous freshwater fish like bass are here. Only a six-year-old sees things for the first time. We can practice a beginner's mind too. He makes me smile often, even though I'm sad today.

It is a practical, insightful and refreshing book that I listened to recently driving down to see my mother who is sadly dying from cancer. Today, I'm surrounded by nurses and my mom is a nurse too. I'm so very grateful to hold my mother's hand and to listen and remember her great life. Every life is precious to an RN and they are never off duty from taking care of the sick with profound empathy. ?They are able to feel compassion and provide comfort.?They are my heroes.