Yesterday, my job held a health “fair”. It included flu shots, health screening, and stress tests. Well, the stress tests were actually mood stickers. But the point is that my employer was sharing their concern that stress is a hinder to health. On the back of a mood test strip were tips to de-stress and quite frankly they seemed somewhat similar to the beginning stages of meditation. Coincidently, I came across “Sit. Breathe. Be a Better Leader.” by Tatiana Serafin of Inc.com.
The article is about meditation. It defines meditation as “an increasingly popular seated practice that encourages alertness in the present moment, a pause to relax and focus, and, ultimately, a recentering to lead better”. The facts from the article are that many employers are investing in wellness programs dedicated to making employees healthier as a means to make them more productive and less dependent on their healthcare.
Another fact from the article is a study from last year found that “brain activity changed in a group of 16 participants who had not previously meditated. Among the enhancements: learning and memory processes, emotional regulation, and perspective taking.” And a study from 2009 found college students had the same response to meditation. Meditation helps with focus: “meditation can help leaders pay attention to what really matters” and control: “meditation enables leaders to stay in the present moment…. By dealing with what you can control and letting go of what you cannot, you can make better decisions.”
Plenty of leaders and executives use meditation to find calm when there seems none and to help them focus. It’s free and the only thing you have to lose is a few minutes of your time. The article gives tips on how to meditate. Take a look and maybe meditate.
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