Anyone who knows me probably also knows I’m a huge fan of mindfulness and meditation. I started meditating years ago and can’t say enough about the benefits for both my personal and professional life.
It is no secret that the business world has been catching on to the value of meditation. Lately, I’ve noticed a number of articles that focus on an evolving view of mindfulness, which I find very exciting.
It used to be when most people thought about meditating, they’d think of the “empty your mind, don’t think about anything” method. And that can be a tall order. But things are changing. Matthew E. May, in a New York Times article, “Achieving Mindfulness at Work, No Meditation Cushion Required,” really struck a chord with me. He makes a distinction between meditation and mindfulness.
I really like this:
“By most definitions, mindfulness is a higher-order attention that involves noticing changes around us and fully experiencing them in real time. This puts us in the present, aware and responsive, making everything fresh and new again.”
And Adam Smith’s “impartial and well-informed spectator” from the same article:
“This kind of in-the-moment, noticing mindfulness is similar to the concept of the impartial spectator first introduced in the 18th century by Adam Smith, who wrote that we all have access to an “impartial and well-informed spectator.”
These statements might seem like a contradiction so I suggest you read the whole article.
Tony Stubblebine, a self-described “human-potential nerd,” offers some detailed step-by-step exercises for building up your mental muscles. This one is also definitely worth a read.
I’m so excited that, on the eve of my 60th birthday, I can still learn and grow. If you feel like you’re in a rut, reach out at Scott@doubledareyou.us and we can talk about how real mindfulness can help you bust of it.
photo credit: adwriter Hartford Hawk via photopin (license)
