Have you found yourself experiencing the following:
- rushing through activities without being attentive to them
- breaking or spilling things because of carelessness inattention,
or thinking of something else - failing to notice subtle feelings of physical tension or discomfort
- finding yourself preoccupied with the future or the past
- experiencing “free floating” anxiety that distracts you from the “now”
- snacking without being aware of eating
If you have, you’re not alone. It’s almost a universal condition of modern, stressful life. It’s called Mindlessness. You’ve probably heard of Mindfulness because it’s all over social media and in articles. Mindfulness is a way to combat Mindlessness. It boils down to where are we focusing our attention. There are only three possibilities: the past, the future, or the present.
Unfortunately, most of us spend our time thinking or stewing about something that has happened or something that may happen. There’s nothing wrong about reflecting on past situations or planning for the future, but that’s not how we mostly spend that time. More likely, we’re rehashing conversations, worrying, making up stories, and stressing ourselves. By learning to spend more time in the present, (by being mindful), all sorts of good things happen.
It wasn’t so long ago that mindfulness was considered a borderline “new age” practice. Today, thanks to science and a growing population of mindfulness practitioners, it’s widely recognized as a powerful way to reduce stress, increase productivity and live a more fulfilling life.
I hope you’ll join me for my 8 week online course, Mindfulness in Leadership, to explore and practice mindfulness and how to apply it at work and in life.