The holiday season is billed a joyful time by a lot of what we see and hear around us. The decorations, cheerful music, gift giving etc. It’s the fun kind of sensory stimulation that takes our minds off the daily workload – even for a little bit.
But in our 24/7 world, we are still bombarded with sensory overload which impacts our minds, hearts and bodies. That’s why it’s a good time to cultivate resilience techniques to release what needs to go from 2007 – and recharge for next year to set the stage for a successful career.
Today I wanted to share insights from the lessons on my CD – PRACTICAL CHAOS: Reflections on Resilience, which takes the listener through three breathing exercises to conquer chaos and cultivate an inner warehouse of stillness. The program tracks can be used as simple breathing techniques, guided meditation or as contemplative exercises. Whatever works for you.
The ultimate message is that the most effective way to conquer chaos is to face it – and use it as fuel for transformation. It’s possible to engage moments of discomfort in your business day a positive way without letting them eat you up and cause you to react inappropriately.
The workplace is one of the greatest culprits triggering emotional responses during the holiday season when images, past experiences, and expectations ring in our minds. For me personally, I work in a newsroom. So, I’m not only triggered by the news around me, but how I personally respond to it emotionally.
It’s nearly impossible to control anything outside of your brain, the good news is that we have choice in how we are going to respond in a moment to another’s chaos or a conflict outside of ourselves. Here are three basic lessons which are explored on the CD.
- Awareness of the Breath: This exercise takes you on a journey of using the breath to calm your mind and body. With the breath you can harness awareness in every moment at home and at work. It’s about being fully present and making use of the creativity that is available to you.The breath can ground you in the world while connecting you to your highest potential and drawing upon your intuitive intelligence. You use the breath to nurture yourself.
- Compassionate Detachment: This breath nurtures an ability to stay focused and compassionate in the world without being attached. You can be detached from the heart without being indifferent to the person or circumstances around you. By suspending judgment, you are not attached to the pain of the drama around you. This breathing exercise helps you to make decisions from a place of clarity for the higher good without burning out.
- Burning Chaos as Fuel: In this meditation you will burn everything that you don’t need. Anything that keeps you from being your authentic self, anything that gets in your way is burned as fuel for personal transformation. In this process you take an active role to relieve stress from work, family, anxiety or concerns about the future.
To listen to podcasts that can help you in the elusive quest for worklife balance check out the WorkLife Monitor Podcasts or JudyMartinSpeaks.com.
