Ruminating over their thoughts and worrying about them is something that affects some introverted women leaders. Known for processing their thoughts, the demands and pressures of a busy role and family life can lead to over thinking and worrying which can be stressful. However, if this is you, there is a way out, and your secret power for this is mindfulness.
On the Quietly Visible podcast this week I spoke to Carolyn Taylor about practising mindfulness from and being present. Mindfulness is simply bringing your awareness into the present moment. A lot of the time we do not have that awareness. How many times have you gone somewhere, but you can’t remember what you saw along the route?
Mindfulness enables you to shift your wandering thoughts and be present in that moment
Being present means being aware of your surroundings, the sounds and all that is going on around you. Rather than letting your mind wander and worry about what you’re going to do next, what you have done, or what you haven’t done.
We often go through our days with our thoughts all over the place. You can be in the moment enjoying something and then your thoughts run away, distracting you from what you’re meant to be focused on.
When you are in meetings or other environments that put you on the spot to perform, your thoughts can start wandering and play havoc in your mind. Mindfulness enables you to shift from those meandering thoughts and be present in that moment. Allowing this to happen means you will perform better in the meeting.
There are many ways in which mindfulness can help you be at your optimal as a leader
Some of the benefits of mindfulness include not worrying about things and ruminating over painful, unhelpful thoughts. It enables you to step off the treadmill of your busy life and work. It allows you to be present ,and for your attention to completely be in the here and now without thinking about what you are going to say next. It takes the spotlight off you and allows you to be present and have presence. With that comes an assured confidence.
Carolyn likens presence as the feeling that someone has your full attention. Being present and paying full attention to who you are with rather than your thoughts racing through your mind, enables them to feel your presence. And if executive presence is something you want to have more of, utilise mindfulness and being present.
In a meeting if your mind is ruminating over what to say, when to say it, and how to say it, quietening your mind hones your introvert superpowers of self-awareness and empathy. Being present is something you can do in the midst of your busy day. You can even practice it in the middle of a contentious board meeting.
You don’t have to set aside hours a day for it
Many people mistakenly think mindfulness means setting time aside and setting the right environment to meditate. Because they think of it like this, they say they can’t do it or that they don’t have the time for it. However, it can take just takes a few minutes each day to practice being present, and eventually you will get into the habit of doing it.
Prior to starting my business, in my demanding leadership role, on my commute to work on the train I would often practice being present. I would sit and be aware of the different noises and movements on the train, something which ordinarily can pass you by as you go through the busyness of your day. This enabled me to still my mind from the many thoughts that would go through it.
When you are stressed, it’s not only you that feels it, it also has a knock-on effect on other people. This can affect productivity and ultimately, the bottom line.
In any situation where you find that you are feeling drained, stressed, anxious, worrying about speaking up, rather than letting your thoughts run all over the place, redirect your mind to the here and now.
To find out more about how to tap into this superpower, listen to the podcast, go through the short mindfulness exercise, and put it into practice the next time you need to still your mind.
Is mindfulness something that you practice to still your mind from the stress and pressure of your busy days? If not, what is one simple thing you can do to practice it today?
First published on LinkedIn.
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