Hi I'm Rebecca Max this is a meditative reflection that I've created to allow you some space and time to reflect on how you can find more purpose and meaning and opportunities for mindfulness at work.
And if you're lucky enough to have a job to go to or a business to run there are lots of reasons to be grateful but oftentimes we find that we spend so much of our time and energy at work that it can feel quite overwhelming and out of balance with the rest of our lives and we often spend much more time at work than we do with our loved ones,
Our family and our friends.
And work can be a place where we're surrounded by many people and many opinions and lots of ideas and lots and lots of noise and sometimes we can find our own inner voice can sometimes get softer and softer and be drowned out until we realize that that voice matters and wants to be heard and we bring it sharply back into focus again.
For other people isolation might come into play if you work for yourself and you might find a deep longing for connection comes up and I would highly encourage you to look at ways to connect with other people if that is the case for you.
So how can we find more purpose and meaning and opportunities to be mindful at work?
We can remember to connect with others in a meaningful way.
We can take time,
Give the gift of our focus and attention to another person.
We can let that person know that what they want to share with us matters,
Will be respected and will be heard.
We can bring the energy that we want to bring into the workplace.
If you're bubbly and happy bring that in,
Infuse that into all your interactions that you have and watch that ripple effect go.
If you're inquisitive and curious bring that in to inspire others with that energy.
I wonder if you can find people to laugh with,
To confide in,
To be your work tribe.
The ones who will support you,
Who will cheer for you when things go well and who will comfort you when they don't.
I wonder if you can lead by example in the ways that really matter.
Being authentic and honest,
Being full of integrity,
Demonstrating vulnerability and having good intentions.
You don't need to lead a team to lead in those ways.
I wonder if you can remember your own values whilst being respectful of the values of other people because we are all different and being mindful of the values of the organization that you work for as well.
If you're lucky there will be some alignment there.
I wonder if we can care about each other just a little bit more at work and in life to show someone that you truly care by being thoughtful and considerate and making a difference to someone's day even in a very small way.
I wonder if we can support someone who's struggling a little bit more with a kind word or gesture taking the time to check in and to connect and to show someone that we really do care.
I wonder if you can thank someone for what they have done for you and really mean it.
Let someone know that their efforts have been noticed and appreciated.
I wonder if you can do something that you know is good for you today even if just for a few minutes a walk at lunchtime,
Actually taking a lunch break,
Perhaps some conscious breathing in a meeting,
Eating something healthy and delicious for lunch.
I wonder if there's something on your desk or in your workspace that is a reminder of home,
A photo,
Some flowers from your garden,
A child's drawing that reminds you why you do the work that you do.
I wonder if you can find meaning in the tasks that you do even the mundane.
How does the work that you do make a difference?
How does the work that you do make a difference to someone or something?
Because I'm sure that it does.
I wonder if you can find a sense of belonging at work,
Get involved in a cause that matters to you and if none of them matter to you what can you bring into focus and awareness that does.
I wonder if you can sit in your chair or stand at your workstation and notice your feet grounded and connected to the floor,
Giving yourself a moment to drop out of your headspace,
Out of your thinking mind and into your body.
I wonder if you can be mindful as you go about your day,
Noticing what is happening without judging,
Without judging things as good or bad.
Neutral or otherwise.
I wonder if you can have healthy boundaries in place that allow you to leave work at work.
I know that's not always going to be the case but sometimes.
Can you write that to-do list so you know what you have to tackle in the morning and so the rest of the evening is just for you and what matters most to you because that's important.
I wonder if before we go to work each day we can take a moment to tune out the noise,
To go within,
To sit in the stillness and the silence,
To set an intention for how we want to show up.
I wonder if we can worry less about what others think of us and worry more about what we think of ourselves.
I wonder if you can tune into all the things that make you uniquely you,
Your sense of humour,
Your curiosity,
Your creativity and allow those things to shine as you work.
I wonder if you can remember why you do the work that you do.
I wonder if you can find things to be grateful for in the work that you do.
I wonder if you can find things to be grateful for in the work that you do and all that it allows you to accomplish in your life.
And I wonder if you can remember that work is just a part of this diverse tapestry of your life.
I wonder if we can find meaning and presence one day at a time,
One person at a time,
One moment at a time.
