Mindfulness has won its place here not because in part because it is about our being, not our doing, and in part because of the message embedded in Tim Parks’ book “Teach us to Sit Still”. (a must read!) It’s also here because of it’s emergence in the workplace which acknowledges that success is not just a function of talent and effort. That it has such a strong meditative component, an intent to be in the present moment adds to the value of thinking how we might engage with mindfulness.

A friend of mine describes mindfulness as “the opportunity to reconnect with my body and focus on the present (right here, right now) with no thought of the past or the future. The value of achieving this condition has been known for centuries. We should listen to the wise messages from the past. Seneca, a first century AD playwright and philosopher describes the value of the present moment exquisitely when he says “the mind that is anxious about future events is miserable. Being miserable is no condition for performing well.

When talking about why she spends time on mindfulness that same friend describes benefits including less stress, feeling happy, feeling more connected with loved ones, and less anxiety (and she hasn’t read Seneca).  

Finding time for mindfulness and wellbeing is challenged by our busy-ness, but equally the effects of our busy-ness are challenged by a good dose of mindfulness.

Mindful

• Awareness
• Internal
• External
• Present moment
• Well being
• meditation

Indifferent

• Anxious
• Stressed
• Worries
• tense