Find the Joy
I don’t know many people who start off as mindful leaders. It’s hard enough to lead and manage people when schedules are so busy. I have been moving at speed for a long time. It began in a running practice that helped me through college and along California trails into early adulthood. Running cleared my head, let me escape into nature, and kept my body strong and fit. It has been a practice that helped me toward mindfulness.
But there’s the flip side to a practice: When you build something into a routine, it can become rigid. Realizing this made me ask myself, “If I am speeding through my day, trying to get it all done, am I living?”
I felt compelled to run at the same time every morning, walk my dogs at the same time, allot myself meditation in traditional ways by sitting still and breathing for a few minutes. It seemed efficient. I have discovered that this can be a prescription for survival rather than living. To me, true living means entering each day with anticipation for what’s ahead. Escaping into a walk or run, to consider problems or let them go, has not allowed me time for the most important ingredient in mindfulness: joy.
One moment of joy in my day pushes away the frantic pace of work. It is contagious and can be consciously passed from person to person. I want to bring this to meetings and events and offer it freely to others. Joy, combined with generosity, allows me as a leader to listen and to guide rather than dictate, to be curious and welcome the unknown.
To experience joy daily, I have to give it room to show up, and when it does, I slow down and breathe it in. And then, I can offer that joy to people I see during the day. I have made a commitment this year to anticipate each day, to be open to moments of delight and then, as a good mindful leader, create a work environment that honors kindness and joy.
Moving Meditation Practice
from Laurie Andrews
Get moving—running, walking, doesn’t matter—whatever gets you moving. Go someplace that has few distractions, where you won’t be interrupted for 15 or so minutes.
Once you find a comfortable pace, take three centering breaths.
For me, a key part of the practice is having nothing in my ears—no music, no podcast—just take in the sounds around you.
Focus on your breathing or on the sound of your feet touching the ground. (The crunch of the snow underfoot is especially great.)
Let go of how fast you are moving or if your heart-rate is elevated—just let the breath or steps ground you.
End the practice by focusing on one thing that will bring you joy or that you are curious about in the day ahead.
Laurie Andrews with her dog Chico (Photo courtesy Sarah Averill)
“You can’t see me very well,” Laurie explains, “but being kissed by Chico is pure joy to me.”
